Kansas City Royals: Potential trade deadline candidates
In what has been a disappointing season for the former World Series champions, the Kansas City Royals will likely look to rebuild sooner than later. With several soon-to-be free agents on the roster, could this year’s trade deadline be the start of a teardown?
It seems odd to already start talking about the Kansas City Royals rebuilding.
After all, this is a team that made two consecutive postseason appearances just a year ago, with two World Series runs and one win, in that span.
However, as of June 15, the Royals sit at a underwhelming record of 30-34.
While there still may be some firepower on this team (think Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez), it appears unlikely that the team will make the postseason.
With an aging core and an average farm system, the Royals are prime candidates to enter a rebuilding phase.
Selling off a few of these aging but still talented veterans would be the smart move for a franchise that has no firepower on the way through the minors.
With that said, there are a number of fan favorites that could be on their way out.
Jason Vargas
After years of being an average starter, lefty Jason Vargas has revived his career at the age of 34.
His 2.10 ERA isn’t the result of a lot strikeouts, as the left-hander only has 65 through 81.1 innings. Instead, Vargas has relied on his solid control and an excellent WHIP of 1.094.
In what no one would have guessed, Vargas has also become the clear-cut ace of this year’s trade deadline. In a market that should include Jose Quintana and Gerrit Cole, Vargas will be one of the most sought after arms, too.
It will be interesting to see what Vargas will net in return if traded. The Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman and Chris Sale trades are all examples of just how valuable pitching is considered in today’s MLB.
Vargas, an average pitcher for the majority of his career, could suddenly net the Royals a significant return.
Perhaps something along the lines of a team’s top prospect and two lower-level ones would do the trick for the 34-year-old ace.
Mike Moustakas
In a third baseman market that should include some premier names, Mike Moustakas will almost certainly be on the block, too.
The 28-year-old is a free agent after the 2017 season, so the team will probably look to net something in return rather than lose him for nothing.
Moustakas is currently slashing .278/.317/.565 with 18 home runs and 40 RBI through 230 at bats.
Teams with third base needs like the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees could potentially create a bidding war for Moustakas’ services.
As Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported, the New York Mets might be a fit for the slugging third baseman, too.
If the Royals are intent on the rebuilding the farm, then a bidding war is exactly what they’d want in order to raise Moustakas’ price.
Lorenzo Cain
Thirty-one-year-old Lorenzo Cain remains a top-15 outfielder in the game, despite the Royals’ mediocre season.
Much like Moustakas, Cain is a free agent after this season, and the Royals would be wise to pounce on a return for the talented outfielder.
Cain, slashing .272/.351/.426 this season, would be a welcome addition to any team that acquires him, as he would immediately step into a starting role on a contender.
As Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported, as long as the Royals stay out of contention, Cain is nearly a lock to be on the move.
Trading Cain, a fan favorite, would be a tough sell to the Royals fanbase, especially just two seasons after a championship run. However, it’d set them up nicely for the future.
Kelvin Herrera
From bullpen savior to on the way out just a year later? It could happen for Kelvin Herrera, who has seen his elite stuff diminish through the 2017 season.
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Once a part of the three-headed monster that included Wade Davis and Greg Holland, Herrera remains the last man standing in the Royals’ bullpen.
If General Manager Dayton Moore decides to trade Herrera, he would be doing it at the wrong time.
After posting a combined 2.61 ERA through the last five seasons, Herrera has allowed 15 earned runs through 26.1 innings this season.
With a HR/9 rate of just 0.8 a year ago, he’s up to 2.4 HR/9 this season.
Still, if the Royals decide to sell, Herrera will be a key name to watch, as the Nationals are one of the many teams looking to solidify their bullpen for the postseason.
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Even with Herrera’s inflated numbers, he’ll still likely be one of the best relief arms on the market.
Any team acquiring him would hope he can return to his elite form.