The Royals are prepared to keep reliever Kelvin Herrera if someone doesn’t offer “a huge haul” for him, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes. Kansas City seems poised to begin a rebuild in 2018, which is Herrera’s last year of team control – two factors that make him a potential trade chip. Now doesn’t seem to be the ideal time to demand a major return for Herrera, though, considering his numbers trended in the wrong direction in 2017. After recording a 2.75 ERA with 10.75 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 72 innings in 2016, Herrera pitched to a 4.25 ERA and posted 8.49 K/9 against 3.03 BB/9 across 59 1/3 frames last season. The 28-year-old also saw his swinging-strike percentage plummet from 15.2 to 11.5, even though he continued to offer imposing velocity.
More from the American League:
- Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters Saturday that he’s “very happy” with his current roster, one he thinks is capable of winning a second straight championship in 2018, and added that “we’re in a good spot because we don’t have to do anything.” Luhnow also noted that, although things have been slow to develop across the majors this offseason, free agents and possible trade acquisitions who would improve the Astros would still require “a significant investment.” It seemed earlier this week that Luhnow was set to make such an investment in Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole, but a deal still hasn’t materialized. Luhnow has addressed the Astros pitching in other ways this offseason, though, having added Joe Smith and Hector Rondon to their bullpen (Twitter video via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com).
- The Twins’ Saturday agreement with Addison Reed “came out of nowhere” for new teammate and fellow reliever Fernando Rodney, a person close to Rodney told Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. According to Rodney, the Twins promised him their closer role when they signed him last month to a deal that includes incentives for appearances and games finished. “We’ll see how it plays out,” the person told Berardino in regards to the Twins’ late-game setup. Another source informed Berardino that the Twins still plan to begin the season with Rodney as their primary closer.
- When the Reed signing becomes official, the Twins could jettison left-handed reliever Gabriel Moya to open up a spot on their 40-man roster, per Berardino. Moya, whom the Twins acquired from the Diamondbacks for catcher John Ryan Murphy last July, is fresh off an incredible Double-A season in which he logged a near-spotless ERA (.77) and posted 13.4 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9 over 58 1/3 innings. Despite that performance, the 23-year-old Moya does not rank among the Twins’ top 30 prospects at either Baseball America or MLB.com. [Twitter update via Berardino: Moya isn’t at risk of losing his 40-man spot in favor of Reed.]
A huge haul for a pending free agent and a big down year on top of that ? Lol. Trading him now would be dumb. If he’s hot by the deadline they can get a ransom for him
When he only has two months left as opposed to a full season and can’t receive a QO? I think not.
Miller and Chapman showed how teams desprate for a closer at the deadline will give up a lot. Right now they would be selling low on Herrera. If he had his normal season in 2017 then I would absolutely agree with you
We don’t know what was offered for Miller in the 15-16 offseason. On Chapman, all that means is the Cubs FO was stupid for not trading for him in the 15-16 offseason.
Chapman and Miller are lefties that throw high heat for strikes, a rare commodity. Herrera is just another hard throwing righty, a much more common skill set. Its an unrealistic comparison.
It happens every season. Idk why you would think not
Oh Yankee I was wondering who would be the first idiot to use the “ransom” or Kings Ransom” crap. Bingo you are the winner!
And right out of the blocks with the first comment.
No sorry you are not getting a “ransom” for this guy at the deadline. Lol. Good luck.
Funny you say to NOT trade for this guy now but you then would trade a Kings Ransom, a haul, for him later in the season at the deadline with only two months left and no ability to even get compensation by draft pick…. hahaha….
I think its safe to say Brian Cashman need not worry about you taking his job as baseball exec is NOT in your future
You clearly didn’t read when I said they would be selling low on him right now, sigh ….
You think they can’t get a lot for him but we have seen desprate gm’s give up a ton in trades before. It has happened plenty of times in the past. I’m glad I get under your skin though
Trade for a player who thinks its ok to throw at someone’s head? No thanks.
He tried to kill Brett Lawrie with that heater haha
and that’s a laughing matter to you?
Lawrie played for my team that year lol not like I wanted him to get hit. I’m laughing at Herrera’s decision to try to hit him with a 100mph fastball. Since you made me elaborate haha
He threw behind him and at the level of the name on the back of the jersey.
I’m sure that’s exactly where he was aiming.
He pointed as his head and mouthed im gonna hit you there. No going around it.
I hope the Twins DFA Moya so the DBacks can claim him back. Trading him for Murphy was a dumb move, in my opinion.
Not as dumb as trading Aaron Hicks for Murphy.
The Twins DFAd Moya and kept Buddy Boshers? WTF?
I think it’s a suggested by Berardino, not that they’ve done it yet. Boshers should be the first on the chopping block. He’s 7 years older than Moya and has the upside of a terrible relief pitcher.
As Sky14 said, it was something Berardino brought up as a possibility but others think no way it happens because the FO likes Moya. Plus Moya is much better than Boshers. Boshers is the easy choice and should be.
Lunhow’s comment strikes me as more posturing—a communication designed for consumption by other agents and GM’s—than sincerely how he feels.
I agree. The guy’s ultimately right in that his roster doesn’t need anything else, but I think he still has an move or two left in him.
Uh yeah, that’s pretty much what Lunhow said!
Hey Connor, I’m really liking the italicized quotes! Don’t think I’ve seen that before!
Hope the Royals like losing Herrera for no return in one year
They will have gotten a year of service, which is not nothing, if they dont trade him. Why trade him if the value back is worth less than that?
Because the Royals won’t contend this year. So a year of service from Herrera IS nothing. Anything the Royals could get for him is worth more than that.
So tell me what the value of a closer for one year in a season you will not contend is worth?
Its worth Zero! So tell me how you cannot get more then zero value by trading him now?
By that logic they should trade everyone on the roster. SMH
Yes, any player with no long term value SHOULD be traded.
Huge haul? Royals are a joke.