The Royals are at least preparing for the possibility that they’ll need to take a selling posture at the trade deadline, according to a report from Jon Heyman of Fan Rag and as suggested yesterday by Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. Though GM Dayton Moore recently indicated that the defending World Series champs were firmly in the buyer’s camp, a source tells Heyman that the organization is readying to head in the other direction if that becomes necessary.
With a .500 record entering play today, it’s certainly possible that a run in either direction could drastically change the club’s outlook in a short period of time. Though it’s jarring to hear of a defending champ with many core, mid-prime players considering a sell-off, it also seems that this probably isn’t K.C.’s year — particularly with the loss of Mike Moustakas and the struggles of players such as Alcides Escobar and Yordano Ventura.
According to Heyman, the club could potentially consider dealing away some rather significant assets. He lists late-inning relievers Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera, starter Edinson Volquez, and even center fielder Lorenzo Cain. It’s worth noting that Cain is on the DL, though he is likely nearing a return.
It’s important to bear in mind that none of the players listed is set to hit the open market after the year — all are controlled via arbitration or option. Realistically, if the club considered dealing players like those listed above, there’s no reason they wouldn’t at least listen on additional names as well. Other shorter-term assets who aren’t pure rentals include first baseman Eric Hosmer, lefty Danny Duffy, righty Luke Hochevar, outfielder Jarrod Dyson, and the aforementioned Escobar.
What’s notable about the K.C. situation is that so many players are controlled for a short time, yet virtually none are set for the open market after the season. The club’s pending free agents — at least, those that aren’t subject to team control rights — include names like Dillon Gee, Chien-Ming Wang, and Drew Butera. Obviously, none of those players is likely to generate a major trade return. While he does come with a mutual option, DH Kendrys Morales may be the closest thing to a traditional rental asset that the Royals have, and his improved play of late could make him a useful piece.
It’s certainly possible to imagine the Royals looking into moving only a few assets, in hopes that they’d return players who could help next season while also bridging to a time when the current core is no longer together. There doesn’t appear to be much of a realistic hope of keeping players like Cain and Hosmer around beyond 2017, so perhaps now is the time to realize returns on at least a few major assets.
That being said, even at .500, the Royals have ample incentive to keep their roster together. It’s still possible to imagine some magic this year — I’ve resolved never to count this team out — and the fanbase will surely stay motivated so long as there is any glimmer of hope. And if the organization still believes in its talent, it can expect to see it all back together — hopefully, with better health — in 2017.
It also bears noting that this news on Kansas City seems to cap a mini-run on teams transitioning to possible sellers. Recent converts include, at least in theory, the Yankees and White Sox, with the Mariners and Tigers also candidates to do the same. That seems in part to be a response to a general perception that the market is friendly to sellers, which in turn may simply be motivating more teams in limbo to gauge what they can get for their more appealing short-term assets.
Alcides Escobar for Adeiny Hechavarria straight up? Even if the Royals don’t sell, it could make sense as both guys are immensely talented and underperforming
I think KC would look more so for prospects than him. Ideally they have their SS replacement in Mondesi (despite not being MLB ready).
Why in the world would the Marlins do that?
Just picking a nit, Morales has a mutual option for next year, and given how those almost exclusively don’t get picked up on both sides, he’s probably a short term asset.
Good point. I’ll edit.
If Jack Z was still a gm he would trade every single minor league player he had just to get Cain, he even said that it was his goal to get Cain at one point. I wonder if the Royals actually will trade Cain or Davis.
No Davis doesn’t fit the offensive culture they have built and he does not fit defensively. If they were to take on a big contract of that nature it would be for sp or a cf and sp split
I think he was referring to Wade Davis.
Sorry now I’m wrong!
Sorry I read your comment wrong
wow lots of sellers all of a sudden as they get closer to deadline…..altho i dont think Roylas really have any top talent in terms of VALUE, in class of Trout, Bryant, Teheran, etc…..
I’m not sure teheran is in a class with trout and Bryant. he has tons of value cause he’s good and has a good contract, but I wouldn’t put him in that class with trout and Bryant and players like them
I hope the Bryant you are talking about isn’t Kris Bryant, if you are talking about good players on sellers. 1. The Cubs are in no way sellers this season. 2. They have very little reason to trade a young player who is putting up huge numbers like Bryant.
Yeah, kind of a bizarre comment, listing three players together as if they have something in common. The addition of Teheran confuses the purpose of grouping them together, since unlike the other two, he: a) probably is available in a trade (The other two are not, period), and b) is nowhere close to the same league as valuable as Trout and Bryant.
You know the funny thing with all the Teheran and “these prospects are better than this…” Teheran was ranked 3rd on prospect list behind Trout and Harper. FWIW
I don’t see any reason for the Royals to trade guys like Hosmer & Cain or even guys like Davis & Herrera. They’ve had a number of injuries this season after two really long seasons. They could easily be a contender in the division again next season. There is no reason to go into a full rebuild. Sure, you consider moving out a few parts to make the team deeper & stronger going forward. However, there is no reason to trade your best players at this point
Yeah, I’d agree with that. When Moose gets back and if Cain and Gordon can stay healthy the Royals could make a run again next year. They’d need a starter to do that though.
If they aren’t doing well at this same time next year, then they’d have to seriously think about selling since many of their free agents-to-be are unlikely to re-sign with them.
If true.. Cubs should be calling about wade Davis and Herrera
The Cubs and all other teams within 4 games of a wild card spot would be calling about Davis and Herrera.
The Angels have the worst Farm with the Greatest Player in Baseball on a team going nowhere. Braves 2017 batting order…
1. 2nd Peterson
2. SS Swanson
3. CF Trout
4. 1st. Freeman
5. LF. Olivera
6. 3rd Beckham
7. Catcher Flowers
8. RF M. Smith
9. Pitcher
Man, the new stadium would be rocking if the Braves traded for Trout. And in the long run, the Halos would benefit as well
4 things wrong with this.
1. The Angels aren’t trading Trout
2. The Braves aren’t trading for Trout
3. Even if somehow it did happen, you wouldn;t have Swanson anymore post-trade. You ain’t keeping your top prospect if you’re trading for Trout.
4. Olivera probably isn’t going to ever play fr the Braves again
And who exactly are you trading to make this happen?
And… What exactly would you suggest trading for Trout?
Please look for a relevant thread to post your Brave trade ideas. This post was about the royals potentially selling, not the braves. It doesn’t have to be only about the royals, but comments should be at least somewhat relevant to the topic posted.
That lineup is slightly less unimpressive as the current one. Sticking Mike Trout on a 60 win team doesn’t turn them into a playoff team… In addition, Swanson is the Braves top prospect; how would they be able to acquire Trout without giving up their best assets (Freeman/Teheran) or #1 prospect? Also, why would a rebuilding team trade the necessary assets to get the best player in baseball if they would have nothing else around them. The Angels crew of Escobar, Calhoun, Pujols, Cron is at least decent. Would cost Teheran and Freeman to get Trout. Probably even more than that. Acquiring Trout would make no sense from the Braves’ standpoint.
If the Braves can pull off a trade for Trout they need to do it, and I think that he was implying that the braves at least send Teharen and albies(I don’t know his name, that seemed close tho), Vizacaino and then some prospects and maybe Freeman for Trout. I think that would get it done.
It would not get it done, unless by “prospects”, you’re including Swanson.
I have held off saying this, but since it was brought up (once again in a thread not including the Braves not Trout) there is only one way to get Trout.
Trout and Pujols
Teheran, Freeman, Inciarte, Albies, Allard, and Toussaint.
Angels get so many years of control and after this season clear a ton of payroll. They can start over. Now obviously this would not happen, but I think swapping first baseman (Angels saving $31 over the contracts, with a 1B 10 years younger) is the most far fetched way it could possibly happen.
Don’t forget about Markakis, buddy
We could use Morales since Fielder is likely out for the season.
Honestly, I would be really surprised if they sell. I just couldn’t see their organization breaking up their World Series’ winning team this early. I get that it’s probably best for their organization if they truly don’t think they can win this year, I just can’t see the owner pulling the trigger on that type of move.
I don’t think they need to do a complete sell off but if they can get something decent for an asset or two that they might be able to replace cheaply in the offseason, then they probably do it.
I would think the Royals could position themselves for a decent return if they put Davis on market.
The Angels have the worst farm in both leagues: YES…
The Angeles trading Trout for prospects: NO!!!
It is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!! TROUT ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE!!!!
Okay, we all agree that the Halos have the worst Farm in baseball. This is how we help the Halos out
Angels get:
1. Teheran
2. Inciarte
3. Jenkins
3. Vizcaino
4. Allard
5. Albeis
6. L. Sims
7. Soroka
This move will help the Halos Farm, give them 3 or 4 players that start, and Braves take Trout
That is a good proposal that everyone else is going to hate even tho it is good.
Hey man!! Thank you very much. I just really come up with this to mess around with the Angels fans because their Farm sucks a Big One. But I know the Braves won’t gut their team for 1 player. However, the Halos are crazy for not wanting to trade Trout. I mean they have nothing even with Trout. Some Halo fan got on here the other day thinking he was going to get a Big haul for Hector Santiago. It gave me a chuckle but i understand he is frustrated with Angel management. Yeah, trading Trout to the Red Sox or Nationals would help the Halos in soo many ways
Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, and this doesn’t just apply to you, but to fans of any team who propose a trade for Mike Trout. You’re not getting him if you don’t include your top prospect. I don’t care how reasonable you think the trade is. Quantity does not make up for quality, not in Trout’s case. For the Braves, that would mean giving up Swanson.
But the thing you really need to understand is that the Angels would lose more than Trout’s on-field production. They would be losing a franchise player, a fan favorite and a major financial draw. So they’re not going to do a mathematically “fair” trade. They would have to be so overwhelmed by a trade offer that their own fanbase wouldn’t riot in an uproar. What you proposed isn’t close to overwhelming.
I know you’re trolling but a lot of teams, especially the Braves, just don’t have what it takes to get Trout and field a competitive team.
And anybody who trades for Trout right now would probably have to give up an already budding superstar, like Betts or Bryant, or Correa or something- on top of prospects.
Don’t forget about Swanson.
Other than Davis and Herrera Cubs should be looking at Duffy and hochevar I think
The Royals aren’t trading Cain/Davis/Hosmer/etc. They feel they’re going to contend next year and it’s the final year the main core (Hosmer/Cain/Moustakas) are all under contract together. The most likely situation, if they do sell, is to get rid of Morales and Volquez, and possibly Hochevar, and that’s it.
They’re not trading Davis unless they get a Chris Sale like king’s ransom for him as he’s under contract for a reasonable $10 million for 2017.
If they’re trading Hosmer it won’t be until July of 2017, and that’s only if they’re out of it by a long margain. Same with Cain or Davis.