The Royals parted ways with Danny Duffy yesterday, trading the veteran left-hander to the Dodgers for a player to be named later. Given Duffy’s long history with the Royals, it was a tough call for GM Dayton Moore, who told reporters (including Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star) that Duffy was “a family member” for the organization.
It remains to be seen if more difficult decisions are in store for Moore and company, as the Royals have a number of interesting trade chips. However, Moore indicated that the club would be more apt to move rental players, as opposed to players who are controlled beyond the 2022 season. By name, Moore said that the team didn’t want to move any of Whit Merrifield, Carlos Santana, or Mike Minor, though said the Royals would remain “open” to ideas.
The Royals signed both Santana and Minor as part of a rather busy offseason, indicating that the team felt it was to some extent on the other end of its semi-rebuild phase. After a hot start, Kansas City has since faded to a 45-56 record, though it makes sense that the Royals wouldn’t want to deal all their veterans and entirely start from scratch heading into 2022.
Merrifield’s name has been floated in trade rumors, as the Royals have reportedly been at least a little more willing than in the past to hearing what other clubs had to offer for the multi-position speedster. However, the Royals were known to be putting a hefty price tag on Merrifield, and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports that Merrifield “is likely” to remain in K.C. beyond today’s deadline.
Given Moore’s hesitations about moving veterans controlled for just one more season, it seems even more far-fetched that Kansas City would trade a player like Scott Barlow, though The Athletic’s Jayson Stark hears that multiple clubs have some interest in the right-hander. Barlow has a 2.70 ERA/3.36 SIERA and a 31% strikeout rate over 50 innings out of the Royals’ bullpen this season, and has been generally solid since making his MLB debut in 2018. Barlow is controllable through the 2024 season, so the Royals could demand for quite a bit in a reliever-hungry trade market, assuming they’re inclined to deal Barlow at all.
Not quite faded. Obviously we aren’t going to the playoffs, but we did just take three of four from Division leading White Sox. Perhaps the Royals will end the second half (& the season) just a few games under, improving on last year’s eight games under of the crazy short season. I also could see the Royals going to a six man rotation once Brady singer is off the injury list. I still like the idea of Santana moving to DH next year because I don’t care about bringing Soler back. That would allow Nick Pratto to become the full-time first baseman.
Do you trade away a family member for a PTBNL?
There’s always the possibility of bringing back Danny Duffy maybe with the understanding that he would be a bullpen piece and he would sign for something cheap like maybe 2 million. Or maybe he will require Tommy John and he will decide to retire instead after the end of the season. Depending on how many innings he can give the Dodgers if he’s healthy when he gets off the injury list (hopefully at the end of August) Will depend on the names on the list that we can choose from for a player.
Hmmm…if its my mother in-law, absolutely!
Rsox has been traded to the couch for a golden retriever puppy to be picked up later.
Barlow is incredibly under the radar pitcher….incredibly. I think he gets better; and he’s darn good now.
I love Whit like everybody else, but would hate to see him go; kind of executes the Royals’ karma. But they gotta do what they gotta do.
Send Whit to Seattle for a few prospects. Whether or not Mondesi comes back and can stay healthy, Lopez is proving worthy of staying at the major league level and Witt Jr/Pratto will be up in no time. Let the young pitchers get the big league experience they need for the rest of 2021 and we’ll compete in 2022/23.
Whit can move to the Outfield so he’s not really blocking anyone. Mondesi may be the one deemed expendable when Witt Jr. is ready. Santana can replace Soler at DH so Pratto’s only real competition at 1B is O’Hearn. The Royals aren’t in terrible shape, it just didn’t work out as planned this season
those quality starts have been much needed, one of them was by a veteran, the rest by the young guys. I could see a six man rotation soon, with the only veteran of course being Mike Minor, the rest being the young guys.
2 of them by the veteran.
Who do you consider the other veteran? I’m guessing you might consider Brad Keller to be a veteran now? Because the other guys in the rotation are only in their second year with the club: Singer Bubic Hernandez Or in Lynch’s case, his first year.
For what it’s worth, this is a nice haul for the twins. I was hoping my Phillies would grab him. Yes I know our farm system sucks! I’m sure the twins were worried they wouldn’t be able to re sign after next season. Most likely only would of gotten 1 of those prospects if they would of waited til next year’s deadline. Just my opinion.
Hosmer for Merrifield.
Returns a family member to the Royals, and adds a second baseman to AJ Preller’s growing stable of them.
A true Win-Lose deal.
If you include CJ Abrams then maybe
The Royals are losing that trade because we don’t want to take on Hosmer’s contract and Hosmer would be blocking Nick Pratto who is in AAA which means he’s very close to making his MLB debut. who knows, maybe it’ll happen in September, if we trade Soler & Move Santana to DH.
Will keep writing it……
Young pitchers take longer to develop than young hitters. Pitchers are far harder to do.
The core of Dayton’s rebuild that got to the WS in ’15-’16 was primarily made up of position players. This rebuild is primarily made up of pitchers. Some of them have been up and have had their lunch handed to them. That’s to be expected, it’s a part of the process.
What they need badly is a veteran Shields-type at the top of the rotation to be a role model for the youngsters – how to train, how to prepare, how to work through bad situations, etc. Not sure Duffy was all that effective in the role. However, I do expect him back with the Royals in 2022. They also need to stabilize the bullpen. That’s the reason they fell apart after a strong start.
In today’s MLB it’s a lot easier to trade pitching for position players than visa versa.
Could minor fill that role right now?
Royals should totally move Minor, Santana & Merrifield and backfill their farm system ala Tampa. Bring up Witt, Pratto, move Mondesi to 2B and any pitchers they want to audition. Let these kids gel as a unit and see big league pitching for the rest of the season. Go after a #1 pitcher in off season. This team had an outside chance a month ago but made no moves. Gotta strike when the irons are hot! Deals to be made; build for the future
I do agree with loving Mondesi to 2B. I think it will take some physical pressure off of his body. SS is the hardest position to play in terms of your body, other than Catcher obviously. Witt at 3B, Lopez at SS, Mondesi at 2B, Pratto at 1B and Perez at C. THAT IS A PLAYOFF INFIELD!!!
*moving
Who do you suggest is the DH ? I was still thinking Santana could move to DH next year.
Yup. Santana slides to DH, Merrifield slides to Right Field when Mondesi comes back.
Not sure Santana would be too optimistic with the dh role, he’s a better fielder than pratto right now. I’ve heard Santana is a good club house guy, just not sure he’s gonna want to step aside for a rook.