Trade Deadline Preview: Kansas City Royals
By David Hill
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The determination as to whether or not the Royals are sellers at the trade deadline could be made within a week or two of July 31st. As it stands, the Royals appear as though they will by buyers, but a losing streak could change that mindset in a hurry. Should the Royals fall out of contention, here are three players that could end up on the trading block.
1. James Shields. The centerpiece of the trade that sent Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi to the Tampa Bay Rays, Shields has been everything that the Royals have asked for since coming over. A true top of the rotation starter, Shields has been a calming veteran presence on what is still a relatively young team. However, Shields is a free agent after this season, and it is highly unlikely that the Royals will be able to afford the salary he is expected to demand in free agency. Should the Royals fall out of the playoff race, Shields should be able to command a solid return.
2. Greg Holland. Since becoming the Royals closer partway through the 2012 season, Holland has been able to cement himself as one of the best closers in the game. He is, however, eligible for arbitration a second time and will begin getting expensive. Meanwhile, Wade Davis is due another $25 Million over the next three years if the Royals pick up all of his team options, which is quite a lot for any team to spend on a setup man. With Davis’s performance this season, it would seem that he may be a closer in the making. Given the number of teams with question marks in the back of their bullpen, Holland would likely be a valued commodity on the trade market.
3. Nori Aoki. Aoki appeared as though he would be a perfect fit in Kansas City, but has played below replacement level ball for the Royals. Perhaps he is pressing in a contract year, or perhaps he needs a change of scenery. Or, maybe Aoki is just about done as a productive player, given how his production has fallen off a cliff. If someone wanted to take a chance on Aoki, the Royals would likely be willing to part with him for virtually anything of possible value.