Know how you can connect with fans? Going on radio shows to talk about yourself and the team and try to show off your personality so people can make a connection. Seems pretty simple to me. Refusing to do those things and making comments about "haters" or "radio losers" is not something I would do.
Kopech has always been his own worst enemy. Why make this move now? Because he has sucked this spring after sucking last year and can't mentally handle being a starter. Perhaps he gains some confidence in the pen. Probably not. But they want to seemingly award guys this spring for being competitive and if that's true then they can't let him continue to be a starter.