Royals Land Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek From Padres For Freddy Fermin

Image credit: RHP Ryan Bergert (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

The Padres addressed a hole in their lineup by trading righthanders Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek to the Royals for their backup catcher Freddy Fermin.

San Diego has gotten the worst overall production at catcher this season with its 30-something tandem of Elias Diaz and Martin Maldonado, both signed to minor league deals in the offseason. Former Padres top prospect Luis Campusano is at Triple-A El Paso after going 0-for-21 for San Diego this season.

ROYALS RECEIVE

Ryan Bergert, RHP
Age: 25

A Padres sixth-rounder out of West Virginia in 2021, Bergert made his MLB debut in April and has pitched effectively in 11 appearances, including seven starts. The 25-year-old has the stuff of a back-end starter, with no pitch grading better than average or above, but he has gotten results in MLB as a rookie: 2.78 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 34 strikeouts and 18 walks in 35.2 innings. Bergert throws a standard four-pitch mix—four-seamer around 93-94 mph, slider, sinker and changeup—and has a track record for durability in the minor leagues. He is ready to handle a role as No. 4 or 5 starter or Triple-A depth as needed by Kansas City. He ranked as the Padres’ No. 13 prospect heading into the trade deadline.

Stephen Kolek, RHP
Age: 28

Originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2018, Kolek joined the Padres in the 2023 Rule 5 draft and spent the entire 2024 season in the San Diego bullpen. The 28-year-old has taken 14 rotation turns for the Padres this season, logging a 4.18 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 56 strikeouts and 26 walks in 79.2 innings. Kolek’s control and 50% groundball rate are selling points, but as a sinker/slider pitcher he will struggle at times versus opposing lefthanded hitters. They are slugging .470 against him this year. Kolek pitches at 94 mph and throws a four-seam, cutter and changeup in addition to his sinker and slider. He fits as a No. 4 or 5 starter candidate has four more seasons of club control after this one.

PADRES RECEIVE

Freddy Fermin, C
Age: 30

Fermin has been a pleasant surprise for the Royals since emerging as a 28-year-old rookie in 2023 and is one of the better hitters among MLB backup catchers. This season hasn’t been his finest—he’s batting .255/.309/.339 with three home runs in 67 games—but he grades above-average for framing, blocking and with regard to pop times on throws to second base. Fermin’s bat control is strong and he rarely strikes out. The righthanded batter has been slightly more effective when facing lefthanders in his career.