With the Kansas City Royals seemingly years away from relevance, it is time to consider trading fan favorite Salvador Perez.
Just the concept of the Kansas City Royals trading Salvador Perez is enough to be met with outrage from the fanbase. After all, Perez is the heart of the franchise, the always smiling gentle giant behind the plate. His Gatorade baths after a Royals win are a reason to celebrate by themselves. He is, understandably, a beloved fan favorite, a player beloved by his teammates and Royals faithful alike.
Aside from his cheerful attitude, Perez has been one of the better performers on the Royals. His strong right arm has been able to shut down a running game, helping to lead to four Gold Glove awards. He has been a five time All Star and the MVP of the 2015 World Series. Perez is a future member of the Royals Hall of Fame, a player that the fanbase will look back upon with fond memories when his career is over.
And yet, for all of those accomplishments, he has struggled this season. His defense is as potent as ever, as Perez has thrown out a league leading 50% of would be base stealers, but his bat has gone into hibernation. Heading into Monday’s contest, Perez had hit 11 homers, but at a .212/.253/.388 clip. There still has yet to be a slider low and away that he would not offer at with two strikes.
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And yet, Perez still holds plenty of value. His defense is still exemplary, as he not only leads the league in caught stealing percentage, but with his five runs saved. He has yet to make an error this season, handling each of his 384 chances flawlessly. His bat still has plenty of pop, and with three years left on his contract extension, Perez would be more than a rental.
Given his status, as well as the timeline for the Royals to be competitive again, it would make sense to listen to offers for Perez. As much as losing the heart of the franchise would hurt, Kansas City does have one of the top catching prospects in the game in MJ Melendez. Meanwhile, there are several college catchers that could move to the top of the 2019 MLB Draft.
The Royals also need to look at the long term. By the time his contract ends, Perez will nearing the end of his prime. Ned Yost has ridden him like a rented mule, plugging the durable Perez in the lineup virtually every day. With three more years of wear, and the Royals rebuild being a long term process, his maximum return will have come and gone.
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As unthinkable as it might be, it may be time for the Kansas City Royals to consider trading Salvador Perez. Even in a down year, his value in a possible trade may never be higher.