The Royals are known to be on the lookout for starting pitching, having been connected to the likes of Ervin Santana, Rich Hill and Matt Moore in recent weeks. Their needs have been accelerated by the struggles of Chris Young and injury setbacks for Mike Minor and, more recently, Kris Medlen. As Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star writes, Medlen suffered a Grade 1 strain in his throwing shoulder while pitching on a rehab assignment from rotator cuff inflammation at Triple-A Omaha and will be shut down from throwing for at least the next two weeks due to the injury.
With uncertainty permeating their rotation, Kansas City is casting a wide net in looking at trade candidates, writes MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. Among the pitchers they’re considering are right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Andrew Cashner as well as lefties Hill and Jorge De La Rosa, according to Morosi. Each of those names would constitute a strict rental, as each is a free agent at season’s end, though previous ties to Santana and Moore suggest that the Royals are possibly open to the steeper price (be it financial or in terms of prospect cost) of adding a player controlled beyond the 2016 campaign. Indeed, McDowell’s colleague Rustin Dodd linked Kansas City to multiple Rays starting pitchers just last night. GM Dayton Moore called the rotation an “area of vulnerability” and confirmed that he’s been “evaluating the landscape” of potentially available options, writes the Star’s Vahe Gregorian.
Royals starters currently rank 29th in the Majors in collective innings pitched at 455 2/3, and they’re a mere one-third of an inning ahead of the rebuilding Reds in that woeful distinction. More troublesome than that sum is the fact Royals starters simply haven’t pitched well even when they’re on the mound. The Royals’ excellent bullpen could perhaps cover persistently short starts if the team were regularly receiving quality five-inning outings from its starting staff, but Royals starting pitchers have posted a collective 5.02 ERA that ranks 25th in the Majors this season. The bullpen has helped to stop the bleeding, but the recent loss of Wade Davis has thinned out the relief corps, and even if he’s not on the shelf for long, they’re on pace for a lofty total of 556 2/3 innings from the bullpen this season.
With that in mind, Hellickson strikes me as the most logical target among the names listed by Morosi. He’s made 18 starts this season and, after a patch of struggles in late April/early May, has averaged 6 1/3 innings per start over his past 11 turns (nine of which have been quality starts). He’s been the most durable of the bunch and probably offers the best blend of affordability in terms of salary ($7MM in 2016) and prospect cost. Hill is earning $1MM less but has pitched considerably better when on the mound, so he should be expected to command a larger return than Hellickson in a trade. Cashner, meanwhile, is earning $7.15MM but has been limited to 59 innings by a hamstring strain and a neck strain. And De La Rosa, a former Royal (2006-07), is earning $12MM this season and lost his rotation spot in May before righting the ship and regaining his starting job recently.
For the time being, the Royals are relying on a rotation consisting of Yordano Ventura, Ian Kennedy, Danny Duffy and Edinson Volquez, with either Dillon Gee or Brian Flynn slated to step into Young’s spot on Sunday following Young’s move to the bullpen. While Duffy has been scintillating since returning to the rotation — a trend that continued last night — and Kennedy has given the club 100 solid innings (3.97 ERA), Ventura has struggled since April. Volquez, meanwhile, has been highly inconsistent, yielding four or more runs in half of his 18 starts this season.
Hellickson for Hunter Dozier, make it happen Klentak.
As amazing as that would be I doubt it would ever happen
If de la Rosa has to be traded, this is a team I would like to see him go to. JDLR for Bubba Starling would be something I would love to see happen. I have always thought Starling would make an excellent Rockie. His speed and defensive prowess would work very well in the huge Coors Field outfield.
The Rockies already have a full outfield. They would most likely trade for bullpen pieces
It seems the Royals sure do like to pick up washed up Braves. I did not realize Minor was part of their organization too.
Drew Pomeranz, melvin upton jr, little cash, and Andrew Cashner for bubba starling, ryan o hearn, matt strahm, alec mills, scott blewett, and hunter dozier.
I feel like I’d rather trade Pomeranz entirely separate from Upton. Id hate to diminish his return for saving a few bucks.
If their going to eat money to make anyone go away, it should be Kemp. BJ has been servicable and they will need a veteran presence for Renfroe, Jank, Dickerson, combination. Assuming Jay can go before the deadline too.
That’s 5 of the top 15 prospects for a pitching rental with uncertainty, a decent CF but very expensive (would take more than a little money), and a pitcher albeit doing well but in uncharted waters and never pitched a full season as a starter with 2 more years of control. I’m a Pads fan and think your ask is pretty unreasonable. OHern seems to only have value if you are not counting on Myers to be on the roster long. It has to stop somewhere and Myers is making a case to be that guy. Not saying you don’t make him prove it in 2017 before talking long term; but if healthy and on par with this year why woul they not build around Myers.
I interested in hearing the logic. I think Pom should stay actually and while BJ will be expensive next year; if he performs similar to this year it isn’t an outrageous overpay. My reach for Cashner and Norris was to try to get Profar from JD. A guy can hope..
Personally, preller should sell high on myers either at the deadline or at winter meetings. Padres don’t have a good recent track record holding onto guys recently- headley, ross, cashner. I’d trade myers while he’s peaking in value. Which is where O Hearn comes in as replacement.
If we package pomeranz with upton they may be able to only pay 1-2 mill a season. Sure knocks down the value of pomeranz but hearn, blewett, dozier, starling, mills, strahm is still a good package.
Sadly, i dont think we can move kemp without eating a ton of money. My suggestion would be try kemp at 1st. Hes awful in RF but if he’s decent enough at 1st teams may not be as weary paying a 1B/DH type what he’s making.
Dozier is not going anywhere, with Moose out of contract after next year. I’m sure they would listen on Bubba, probably in AAA for more visibility. Hellickson could probably be had for a lower level prospect or two.