The Royals have already begun receiving quite a few calls about the availability of closer Wade Davis, per FanRag’s Jon Heyman, and the team appears willing to consider the possibility of a deal, as it was this past July when Davis was a trade candidate prior to landing on the disabled list with a forearm strain.
Kansas City has yet to exercise Davis’ $10MM option for the 2017 season and won’t do so until the completion of the World Series, though it’s a lock that they’ll do so when that decision arrives. While he’s only controlled for one more season before hitting the open market, Davis would represent a considerably more affordable late-inning option (from a financial perspective, anyhow) than free agents such as Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon.
Heyman’s report doesn’t list specific teams that have reached out the K.C. general manager Dayton Moore, but the Giants are known to be prioritizing top-tier bullpen arms this winter. Speculatively speaking, the Dodgers could make sense as an eventual trade partner, given president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman’s familiarity with him (Friedman was the GM in Tampa Bay when Davis was drafted), though certainly Los Angeles has more pressing issues on its hands as it preps for a matchup with the Cubs in the NLCS. The Cubs themselves could also be in the market for a ninth-inning arm this offseason (though they may well try to retain Chapman), while the Yankees and Nationals represent other clubs that could explore opportunities to add high-impact relief help.
Of course, any number of teams could come calling on Davis given his relatively affordable salary and his track record of excellence. Since moving to the bullpen with the Royals following multiple lackluster seasons in the rotation, Davis has transformed into one of the game’s truly elite relievers. Dating back to Opening Day 2014, Davis boasts a comically minuscule 1.18 ERA with 11.5 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 and a 44.4 percent ground-ball rate. Moore has said that Kansas City will see its payroll “regress” in 2017, and swapping out Davis for some premium minor league talent and/or a cheaper, more controllable young big leaguer could help them work toward that end.
Then again, the 31-year-old Davis isn’t without his red flags. Though his 1.87 ERA in 2016 was once again pristine, his 9.8 K/9 rate was the lowest in any of his seasons as an elite reliever, while his 3.3 BB/9 rate was his highest of any full season in the ‘pen. Davis’ velocity was down one full mile per hour over his 2015 average of 95.9, and he also spent a combined five weeks on the disabled list (spread across two different stints) due to forearm troubles. He surrendered three runs across his first three appearances in returning from that second DL stint, though interested parties may be heartened by the fact that he finished the year with seven shutout innings, during which he compiled a very tidy 9-to-1 K/BB ratio.
While it should be stressed that no deal would be reached with the postseason still in full swing, the preliminary talks being held now could ultimately provide the groundwork for more substantial discussions later in the offseason, be they at the GM Meetings in November or the Winter Meetings in early December.
If it is purely a cost cutting move, The Braves will trade Jim Johnson and any of the 4 of 5 veterans they keep resigning and trading for Davis. Would the Royals prefer Kelly Johnson or Frenchy? Sorry, couldn’t help myself
Would kinda package would it take from Cardinals to get Davis and Cain? Weaver, Garcia (cards pick up option and eat some of contract) and Adams, peralta or Wong?
Not even close to enough, and I don’t think it’s even that close to getting you one of the two.
Why would the Royals want all the Cardinals crap?
Because Cain and Davis will make $21 million in 2017 and they need to shed payroll.
That doesn’t mean they’re just gonna give them away….
There are 28 other teams in baseball, it’s not like it’s “takes the cardinals crap or get stuck paying them”
Cardinals crap? Are you seriously calling Weaver, Wong, and Peralta crap? Thats hilarious.. oh I get it youre a Royals fan and just started watching baseball two years ago. Makes sense.
People in KC have watched the Royals their whole life. They also happen to enjoy their football team too.
To get both of those guys you’d better throw in Alex Reyes or I wouldn’t even bother picking up the phone.
Davis wont be a huge savings though he will be making 10 million and with how RP have been you can commit 50 million to a RP and not expect to be on the hook for the full contract because they are valuable at the deadline if things don’t go your way. In terms of AAV Davis wont be much of any savings, most teams would prefer the extra years at same to a little higher AAV the other RP on the market will offer, I think the Royals missed on trading Davis and should just keep him until the next deadline, they wont get a big haul with pending FA closers.
“In terms of AAV Davis wont be much of any savings, most teams would prefer the extra years at same to a little higher AAV the other RP on the market will offer”
This just isn’t really true. Some will, sure. But many teams will be very happy to only have the 10 mil total commitment instead of say 40 mil over several years.
Those teams obviously exist but I don’t see many of them viewing them selves as a RP away and willing to dump major prospects in the off season for one. Teams like the Giants have money coming off the Books and will just pay money for one, instead of gutting an already weaker farm system. Royals really have no reason to trade Davis before July 2017 either, let the team get healthy and see how the first half goes before selling. Remember Davis also had arm trouble that is more threatening as he is a rental than say a guy on a 4 year deal having arm trouble in the first year. The guy with control can actually come back for you hopefully, all though both scenarios are obviously bad.
Also wanted to add its not just 10 million commitment its 10 million + prospects/players
There are 3 really good closers in fa and more than 3 teams that need back end help.
“I don’t see many of them viewing them selves as a RP away and willing to dump major prospects in the off season for one.”
You mean like both the Cubs and Nationals did just this year for 2-3 months of a closer?
Seems to me that Davis goes to the Dodgers, Nats,Giants or Cubs who are all big market contenders who are losing their closers. Let the bidding begin.
You can easily add the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, and Astros as potential suitors. That is not even getting into the NL. Davis will bring back quite a haul for the Royals, but I think they will hold onto him until the deadline. Getting back a Chapman like return while still having him for half the year makes too much sense. Although, they might receive prospects that are nearly ready as opposed to High A talent if they trade him in the off-season. Who knows, the Royals could fire sale a few players with short time contracts this off-season and completely restock their farm. I think they are going to be the team to watch this hot stove season.
It makes too much sense? It barely makes any sense.
“Forearm strain.” So basically a Tommy John case waiting to happen.