The Royals are beginning to engage in some preliminary chatter with rivals in advance of the summer trade deadline, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. Of course, that does not mean that any near-term dealing ought to be anticipated.
While GM Dayton Moore recently suggested the club would not make any decisions until the deadline is at hand, he struck a somewhat different tone in commenting for this report. Moore tells Heyman that, “when a team isn’t performing as well as they’d like, it makes sense to be open-minded concerning trade scenarios.”
To be sure, Moore also noted that he “wouldn’t say we are moving quickly on the trade front.” But it does seem that the preparatory work is underway to facilitate some degree of deadline sell-off. That’s hardly surprising given the Royals’ miserable 16-33 start and basement-dwelling status in the game’s worst division.
Surely, the Royals’ slate of pending free agents — including, most prominently, closer Kelvin Herrera and third baseman Mike Moustakas but also Jon Jay, Lucas Duda, Alcides Escobar, and Drew Butera — will be on the table. But the report indicates, and Moore seemingly affirms, that there’ll be at least a willingness to consider more than pure rental pieces.
It would remain stunning if the K.C. organization considered anything involving backstop Salvador Perez; frankly, there’s no reason at all to think he’d be available. Otherwise, the roster is not exactly loaded with established, high-performing, still-youthful assets. That said, 29-year-old second baseman Whit Merrifield is again hitting well and might be an interesting piece for a contender, though the asking price will surely reflect his solid play and remaining cheap control.
There are some other interesting pieces on hand, to be sure. But younger and/or less-established players such as starter Jakob Junis, reliever Brad Keller, and outfielder Jorge Soler don’t really seem like traditional deadline targets. Meanwhile, the team’s slate of higher-priced veterans on lengthier and larger contracts are not performing to their rates of pay.
Who would cost more in prospects: Realmuto or Sal Perez?
Why wouldn’t Salvy be available? He’s getting older. He’s taken a beaten at the backstop over the last 4+ seasons and that’s starting to show. His offensive stats don’t wow. If I was DM, I’d absolutely consider moving him now while he has some value and I’m rebuilding my club.
I totally agree. If I’m DM, Sal is one of the first players I look to move. He’s not dirt cheap anymore and he’s a big base clogger that I don’t think will age well. I think Moore is playing coy with Perez, if he gets a legit offer, I think he would trade him.
I wonder what it would take to get Merrifield. He would be an interesting target for the Dodgers if Forsythe continues to not do much. At that point I’d want to get Herrera included as well.
I’d say headline the deal with Keibert Ruiz as the future Salvy replacement with Jordan Sheffield and others. I just don’t think it’d be quite enough for both
Seems like a lot for him
It’d be for Merrifield and Herrera, to get both I think it’d have to be essentially an overpay
Merrifield and Herrera for Ruiz and Sheffield is about fair but won’t happen – Dodgers are losing Grandal and Ruiz is the cost-controlled long-term piece behind the dish for them. They might go year-to-year with Barnes and some bridge FA types, but they absolutely love Ruiz and Merrifield isn’t enough. No one on KC is.
The Royals don’t have much.
I wonder if they’ll trade Cain or Hosmer
Umm they’re not on the team. They signed somewhere else in the offseason.
I think that might have been the point of his post; that the team already screwed this up by waiting this long
*sigh*
Funny watching you all show up to try out bad trade ideas and crap all over players you don’t like. You must be the same crowd that goes to storage unit auctions.
We’re talking baseball. That’s what these platforms are for….if that’s ok with you.
You were the one claiming the Dodgers had to give up Behler or Verdugo for Darvish and neither came close to being traded
yeeeeeep….
Maybe take a glance at the name of the webpage before commenting. This is a place for baseball rumor discussion, and trade discussion, both real and hypothetical.
Mariners receive: Whit Merrifield and Jason Hammel
Royals receive: Andrew Moore and Julio Rodriguez
Mariners take on a bad contract (Hammel) to get Whit Merrifield to replace Robbie Cano. Royals get back a gem of a prospect in Julio Rodriguez and get a solid starting pitching prospect with major league experience.
At this point Andrew Moore is gonna give similar results to hammel so idk why the mariners would want him. Andrew Moore for Merrifield straight up would be more likely.
laughable trade for KC, Seattle has probably the worst farm in the game with no one to offer. Merrifield will bring back a top 50 prospect alone. Lay off the upsell on Julio Rodriguez too, such an obvious one-sided homer trade idea lol
The positive trade value of Whit Merrifield is at least partially offset by the negative value of Jason Hammel and his 2018 salary of $9 million and 2019 buyout of $2 million.
Though it makes a lot of sense for KC to shift into full blown rebuild mode, I just don’t see them having a fire sale. Moore may trade 2 or 3 pieces by the deadline, but nothing dramatic.
Moore would absolutely love to trade every one of Herrera, Moose, Duda, Escobar, Jay, Hammel and probably a couple more – because none will be in KC next year. Whether he can get a return for all of them is a different story.
It’s not about a ‘fire sale’ – it’s about trading all of the players that will be free agents next year – because there is zero reason not to.
You hit the nail on the head. There’ is no reason not to trade the guys that aren’t goung to be there next year. DM won’t get what he asks for but needs to make the best deal he can and move on. Merrifield, Perez and Duffy(if he comes around) have real value and wont be given away. He would love to find away to move Kennedy and even Gordon but as we know…those contracts on top of lousy performance makes them immovable objects.
I think the Royals have 4 mortal locks to be traded. Duda, Jay, Moose and Herrera. Duda and Jay for lottos tickets but DM will get a fair return for Moose and Herrera, especially Herrera. Under the right circumstances…Duffy, Merrifield, Hammels and Perez wont be off the table. jmo.
Which contenders need a 1B or a 3b? Duda and Moose are not locks because, like JDM last year, its hard to get value back when no one wants what you’re selling.
I don’t think Dayton Moore is going to play hardball to move Duda. He will simply take the best offer he gets. I think Moose will bring back a legit prospect. I like the idea of Moose and Herrera to the Braves for a package built around Joey .Wentz.
The Braves don’t need to trade for rentals.
Lol Escobar mention, I wouldn’t give up organization filler for him.
You know Moose is just drooling over the idea of getting traded to get out from under the qualifying offer tag for next years free agent season
Latest CBA put in a rule that a player can only be hit with the qualifying offer once. Moose is free of qualifying offer in the coming off season trade or no trade,
Saw it on here on another post, but gonna reiterate:
Swap Butera for Verlander.
Love Perez to the Mets
For who?
Think you’re too optimistic… Mets couldn’t outbid the A’s for Jonathon Lucroy when he was available. (ended up signing 1 year, 6.5M FA) you think theyd take Salvador Perez’s $$? Doubtful even with the dearth of minor league talent but Catcher been a black hole, while curious to see how they address it
black hole for* a while, curious to see how they address it
They probably could out pay the athletics but chose not to since they had D’arnaud. In hindsight they probably would
D’arnaud always had potential, but never fulfilled it. I really think Lucroy or anyone else would’ve been an upgrade over D’arnaud. At the very least — maybe push him to win the starting job out of ST, throughout the season. (while providing depth, which didn’t mention because hindsight 😉
Phil Evans and Pete Alonso for Perez works well for both sides. KC can slot them both in at 2B and 1B right away.
KEEP: Keller
TRADE: literally everyone else. Scorch the earth, it’s the only way. Fill in the gaps with AAAA guys and sign some cheap rebound FA types in the offseason if the trades don’t bring in enough.
Would like to see the Braves go get Moose and Herrera. Both are rentals. I think the Braves might consider a solid near ready/ready now pitching prospect and supporting players. The sooner they can make a deal, the better the return for KC.
I repeat…the Braves do not and should trade anyone for rentals.
Why not? Moose will not cost them much and will provide veteran stability for at least this year should they make a run for the postseason. In addition to that, it provides them with flexibility for next year should something happen to Riley over the course of the season.
Maybe. Cheap is good.
It kinda depends. We have a ton of depth so we could deal some guys like Sims, Fried and Wisler in a rental type situation and it wont really hurt.. I wouldn’t deal any of our higher end prospects like Allard or Wentz unless the return was for someone who would be around long term.
Jon Jay? Who wants Jon Jay?
Jay would be a good bench player for a contender.
You mean the same guy who bats leadoff, yet every time a runner gets to 2nd base, Yost has Jay sacrifice the runner to 3rd? Must have a ton of trust in the guy. Bench player for a contender? Does he offer late inning defensive skills? Not. Pinch runner for speed? Not. Power off the Bench? Not. He’s where he belongs. On a losing team except Yost bats him 1st instead of 9th, and plays him in CF so balls can go over his head and the gaps. Jay is awful. It’s that simple. Empty hitter.
Jay is no Roberto Clemente but I don’t think he’s nearly as bad a baseball player as you make him out to be. He’s had a pretty nice career for not being able to run, throw, hit or catch. I don’t know how many Royals games you watch but I watch them all and I don’t see what you see.. Dayton Moore will be able to trade him this summer and he’ll be a nice fit for somebody.
Yeah, I’ve watched him for his entire career. Like you said, he can’t run, throw, hit or catch. Thanks for verifying what I’ve been saying. And yes, he is NOT Roberto Clemente. He’s more like Guido Sarducci. But he can bunt with men on 2nd.
a Guido Sarducci drop? Is this Matty V?
The Seattle Mariners could use the expiring contracts of Jon Jay and Jason Hammel. Jay would permit Dee Gordon to return to second base when Gordon comes off the disabled list and Hammel could eat some innings for the thin Mariner pitching staff.
Given Hammel’s 2018 salary of $9 million and 2019 buyout of $2 million, the Royals could not expect much in return.
The Mariners recently received a windfall of nearly $12 million with the 80-game suspension of Robinson Cano.
Seattle reportedly was interested in Jon Jay last offseason before trading for Dee Gordon. The Mariners drafted Jason Hammel out of a Seattle-area high school in 2000 but the right-hander opted for two years of community college before signing with Tampa Bay following the 2002 draft.
And Seattle is glad they didn’t GIVE Jay that contract
Take Jay, then watch balls fly over his head and drop everywhere
This year Jon Jay has posted a UZR/150 of 16.8 with one Defensive Run Saved in 382 innings in the Kansas City outfield.
fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5227&posit…
Jay has recorded o.5 WAR in 42 games while posting a line of .292/.348/.339/.686. If one WAR is worth $8 million, Jay’s $3 million contract is a bargain.
Who says no??
Braves trade: Max Fried, Ian Anderson, and Brett Cumberland .
Royals trade: Moustakas and Lovelady
I’m sure the Royals would ideally want to hang onto Lovelady, since he’s a young and controllable pen arm, BUT they’d be acquiring two more young and controllable arms, one with #2-#3 starters potential, and the other with #4-#5 starters potential..Plus, they get a power hitter who can catch, and can play multiple defensive positions, in Cumberland..
lovelady Is exactly the kind of player the Royals want to keep. I just don’t see the Royals moving him. It’s just a hunch, but I think the Royals want Joey Wentz
Duffy made a positive step restoring some of his trade value tonight against the Rangers. He needs to do that about another half dozen times in a row before the trade deadline. Except for maybe the Astros, what contender couldnt use good lefty in the rotation?
It’d be close, but I think its a bit steep on the Braves side. I don’t see it in Fried, but the organization seems to have a considerable amount of faith in him. I feel like they would not give him up with Anderson.
I would argue Cumberland, Anderson and a guy who’s more of a high upside lottery ticket like Raysheandall Michel.
Can’t see Atlanta parting with 2 of their top tier prospects for that return. The middle of their order is left hand heavy already. Could see them as a match for Herrera though.
Perez trade?
Theo and. Jed need to trade for Kelvin Herrera unless he’s a free agent after this year. They’d let him walk after this season. Marrow isn’t bad and the Cubs bullpen is by no means bad but if they could had a power arm for a 2nd option to close games. It would help. It’s only a matter of time before the Cubs take over the nl central. The. Brewers are not as good as they are playing. Only played one good team. They are 1-7 vs the Cubs.
The dbacks completely choked against average pitching. They are used to Kershaw not bruce suter.
Moore overvalues the guys the organization drafted and developed so I don’t see them trading Perez. He’s worth more to the Royals and they’d ask for too much in return anyway. So yes Realmuto is worth more in trade. I really think Moose and Merrifield could go either way: team may decide they too are worth more to keep if they aren’t getting much of value in trade offers.
> remain stunning
Huh?