Kansas City Royals: Jake Diekman may be next to go

The Kansas City Royals have begun unloading veteran players. Reliever Jake Diekman may be the next to go.

The fire sale is officially on for the Kansas City Royals. After their minor deal sending Ben Lively to Arizona, the Royals dealt Homer Bailey to the A’s for prospect Kevin Merrell. Considering where Bailey was just four months ago, Kansas City received excellent value for the resurgent Bailey.

With those players already out the door, and the Royals having a 32-62 record heading into Monday’s action, more changes may be coming soon, especially to the pitching staff. Based on the teams interested in his services, reliever Jake Diekman may be the next pitcher out the door.

Diekman would, at first glance, appear to be an odd choice for a team looking to upgrade their bullpen. He has posted a 0-6 record, along with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.339 WHiP, hardly the type of numbers that inspire confidence that he would be tradable.

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Yet, there are certain factors that make Diekman intriguing. It so happens that he is a left handed reliever, which is something that virtually every team looks for at the trade deadline. Diekman also has plenty of ability to miss bats, with 54 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. Even though he has also issued 22 walks, Diekman’s strikeout potential can mitigate those command issues.

Another major factor is Diekman’s cost. He is owed less than $1 million for the rest of the season, and has a mutual option for $5.75 million. Even with his $500,000 buyout, that overall cost for a hard throwing lefty reliever could be quite enticing.

That is particularly the case for those contending teams not looking to extend their payroll. Teams like the Nationals, Cubs, and Red Sox all need help in the bullpen, but are stretched thin when it comes to their budget. A pitcher like Diekman not only would not cost much in terms of salary, but would not likely require a top prospect either.

Jake Diekman may not be having a banner year for the Kansas City Royals, but there is interest in his services. He may be the next player on the move out of Kansas City.