O'Brien was designated for assignment Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals had to make room for Seth Maness on their 40-man roster and opted to designate O'Brien for assignment. O'Brien has had a rough season at Triple-A Omaha thus far, as he's posted a .162/.235/.276 line over 27 games.

O'Brien was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

O'Brien is slashing .294/.362/.765 with a team-leading seven homers and 14 RBI over 51 at-bats this spring, but he was never considered too serious of a candidate to crack the Opening Day roster. Even with Jorge Soler expected to hit the DL to begin the season, O'Brien's lack of a defensive home -- along with his struggles to make contact (team-leading 19 strikeouts) -- ultimately kept him off the 25-man.

O'Brien is slashing .294/.362/.765 with a team-leading seven homers and 14 RBI over 51 at-bats during Cactus League play.

EDGE Analysis

O'Brien power tool has never been in dispute, but his high strikeout rate and lack of defensive value has prevented him from establishing himself as a regular in the big leagues. Those contact issues have reared their head again this spring, as O'Brien's 19 strikeouts are also tops among all players on the team. The Royals could have an opening in the outfield with the news that Jorge Soler (oblique) may require a DL stint to begin the season, but Terrance Gore, who boasts game-changing speed and better defensive instincts, may be a better fit for a reserve role than O'Brien.

O'Brien is impressing his new teammates with his displays of power so far in spring training, the Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eric Hosmer called O'Brien's power "amazing," while Alex Gordon took it a step further and declared it "the best [he's] ever seen." O'Brien hit three homers in the Royals' first four spring games as he starts building his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he's widely considered a long shot to make the team out of camp. In addition to the swing-and-miss issues that have dogged O'Brien and his lack of a defensive home, his two option years remaining are working against him.

O'Brien was traded to the Royals on Tuesday in exchange for minor league pitcher Sam Lewis, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

O'Brien will be added to the Royals' 40-man roster after he was DFA'd by the Diamondbacks last month. The 26-year-old appeared in 28 major league games last season but spent the bulk of the year at Triple-A, where he hit .254/.295/.505 with 24 home runs and 75 RBI in 406 at-bats. The former second-round pick will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but could ultimately end up beginning 2017 at the Triple-A level.

O'Brien was designated for assignment on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

This move has been a long time coming, and it is not surprising to see the new regime cut bait with O'Brien, who at best is an AL-only player, given his lack of a defensive home. More likely, he is a Quadruple-A bat with big raw power and a below-average hit tool. Look for a rebuilding American League club to roll the dice on claiming him and bringing him to camp in case he can demonstrate an ability to make contact at a solid enough clip for his power to play in games.

Since being recalled on Sept. 6, O'Brien has just five at-bats and they've all come as a pinch hitter.

EDGE Analysis

He's become somewhat buried on the Diamondbacks depth chart at this point. At 26 years old, O'Brien is no longer a young prospect and it's unclear what his future is with Arizona. He offers tremendous power, but he's also hitting just .145 this year with a brutal 40 percent K rate. Those numbers will need to improve if O'Brien is going to be part of Arizona's 2017 plans.

O'Brien said he is prepared to serve as the team's emergency No. 3 catcher, Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Backup catcher Chris Herrmann broke two bones in his left hand Friday and will miss the rest of the season. That leaves the Diamondbacks with Welington Castillo and Tuffy Gosewisch as healthy catchers on the roster. O'Brien came up through the minors as a catcher, but the organization has shifted him to the outfield and he hasn't appeared behind the plate this year. It seems unlikely that O'Brien will catch for the team before the season ends.

O'Brien was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

O'Brien continues to get older (26) and his big league resume has not gotten any more impressive. He boasts a .164 average with five homers and a 41.7 percent K-rate through 72 MLB plate appearances, showcasing his plus raw power and below-average hit tool. He should play sparingly for the D-Backs over the final month.

O'Brien was optioned to Triple-A Reno prior to Monday's matchup against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

O'Brien's brief stint in the majors didn't quite go as expected, as he hit just .123 despite launching four home runs. He had been held out of the starting lineup for four straight contests, so the Diamondbacks are likely just trying to get the young outfielder more consistent at-bats. Look for him to be back up with the club at some point in the second half of the season.