Royals trade Alec Mills to Cubs for Donnie Dewees

On Wednesday evening the Kansas City Royals traded right-hander Alec Mills to the Chicago Cubs for outfield prospect Donnie Dewees. Both players are prospects, so let’s take a look at what they offer.

Donnie Dewees, OF: Dewees was drafted by the Cubs in the second round in 2015 from the University of North Florida, following a breakout junior year that saw him hit .422/.483/.749 with 18 home runs and 23 steals. He’s been less explosive in pro ball but still reasonably successful, hitting a combined .284/.338/.416 in 2016, with 31 steals in 36 attempts and a 39/87 BB/K in 514 at-bats between Low-A and High-A. He hit just five home runs, but knocked 14 triples.

Dewees is a left-handed hitter, age 23, listed at 5-11, 205. He has 70-grade speed and uses it very well on the bases and in the field, although a weak throwing arm is an issue on defense. Dewees hasn’t shown much home run power in pro ball but he did show substantial thump in wood-bat college summer leagues (including a .340/.410/.473 tear through the 2014 Cape Cod League). Overall this is a fourth outfielder profile unless the power improves but there’s at least some chance that could happen.

Alec Mills, RHP: Mills was drafted by the Royals in the 22nd round in 2012 from the University of Tennessee-Martin. He made 23 start between Double-A and Triple-A in 2016, posting a combined 3.22 ERA with a 122/31 K/BB in 126 innings. He appeared briefly in the majors, giving up five runs in 3.1 innings over three outings.

Mills is a 6-4, 190 pound right-hander, age 25. He has classic fifth starter long/relief stuff with a low-90s fastball along with a decent change-up. He also has a curve and slider that can be difficult to distinguish from one another, although in the clip below he has his curveball working well. He threw easy and frequent strikes in the minors but was more tentative in the majors. With more adjustment time he could be a useful component of a staff, a 10th or 11th man who can be used in multiple roles.