Close Article Return to stream X

MLB • 11 months ago

5 Kansas City Royals Who Should Be On the Trading Block Right Now

+Read full article

Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

5 Kansas City Royals Who Should Be On the Trading Block Right Now

Greg Holland Kansas City Royals — Now that the Kansas City Royals somewhat understand the makeup of their 2015 team, a long list of possibilities must be explored when it comes to improving the roster. Both the current status of the club and its strategy for the seasons to come need to be considered, so some crowd favorites could be on the trading block even this early in the season. Here are five integral players that KC could be listening to offers for right now.

Now that the Kansas City Royals somewhat understand the makeup of their 2015 team, a long list of possibilities must be explored when it comes to improving the roster. Both the current status of the club and its strategy for the seasons to come need to be considered, so some crowd favorites could be on the trading block even this early in the season. Here are five integral players that KC could be listening to offers for right now.

5. Kelvin Herrera

5. Kelvin Herrera

The Royals recently signed hard-throwing reliever Kelvin Herrera to a two-year, $ 4.15 million contract in order to avoid arbitration. This deal would keep Herrera in KC through the 2016 season, but the Royals may prefer to get value out of him via trade. Their surplus of impressive relief pitching could tempt KC to trade Herrera away for another useful piece, either in 2015 or next year.

4. Omar Infante

4. Omar Infante

Rumors about KC trading Omar Infante surfaced early this offseason, but those talks turned out to be all smoke and no fire. Now, with utility infielder Christian Colon playing well, KC may revisit the idea of trading away Infante to get out from under his four-year, $ 30.25 million deal. He hit .314 the season prior to becoming a Royal, but since then Infante's struggled with injuries and failed to record an OPS above .741 in any single month.

3. Wade Davis

3. Wade Davis

Wade Davis gave Kansas City one of the five greatest seasons by any reliever in baseball history last year, so would KC really consider trading him away? Believe it or not, it's possible. Davis' four-year, $ 12.6 million contract ends after this season, so the Royals could consider trading him to a team in the playoff hunt that's desperate for a shutdown reliever instead of letting Davis hit the free agent market in 2016.

2. Jason Vargas

2. Jason Vargas

Jason Vargas started his 2015 campaign in shaky fashion, posting a 6.75 ERA in his first three starts, but a veteran lefty starter is still a very valuable commodity in MLB. KC has World Series star and rookie Brandon Finnegan developing into a starter in Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Kris Medlin recovering quickly from surgery, 2014 Comeback Player of the Year Chris Young and others who could replace Vargas if KC chooses to deal him this season.

1. Greg Holland

1. Greg Holland

That's right, every part of KC's three-headed monster from 2014 should be on the trading block right now -- even their star closer, Greg Holland. Only Craig Kimbrel can come anywhere close to Holland's effectiveness over the last three seasons, and now that the Royals are a proven, legit ball club, a strong closer has never been more important for them. Nonetheless, Wade Davis would serve perfectly well as KC's new closer, so a trade is possible.

Doug LaCerte is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DLaC67, “like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.

Teams in this article »
Kansas City Royals

Doug LaCerte is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.

Your Favorites

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 6 days ago

Orlando, Fuentes Front-Runners For Royals' Remaining Roster Spots

Breaking News

The Kansas City Royals have three weeks to choose who reaches the Opening Day roster, but these two guys already make a strong case.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 weeks ago

Royals Yielding Mixed Results In Super Early Spring Training

Breaking News

The preseason is only four games old, but there are at least some stats to look at. Many developing Kansas City Royals have already posted numbers that are newsworthy, for better or worse.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 weeks ago

Zimmer On Pace for Eventual Call-Up From Royals

Breaking News

The Kansas City Royals won't rush the development of their best pitching prospect, Kyle Zimmer, but he undoubtedly looks like a legit starter-in-the-making right now.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 weeks ago

KC's Starting Right Field Job Now Up For Grabs

Breaking News

Kansas City Royals veteran speedster Jarrod Dyson sprained his oblique in KC's first spring training game, which leaves the Royals with a hole to fill in the Opening Day lineup. Who will step up in March to earn a job in April?

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 weeks ago

Predicting Royals' 2016 Record Going Into Spring Training

Breaking News

Coming off of a World Series victory, one might think that the Kansas City Royals should be poised to make another run deep into the playoffs.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 1 month ago

Tigers Won't Outshine Royals In 2016

Breaking News

The Detroit Tigers improved their roster immensely through the winter, but they won't find it easy to surpass the defending World Series champs in 2016.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 months ago

5 KC Royals Who Need To Stay Healthy In 2016

Breaking News

The Royals will look to defend their World Series crown in 2016. To do so, having these guys stay healthy will be a good start.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 months ago

Royals Grossly Overpay For Ian Kennedy

Breaking News

The Kansas City Royals really overpaid in signing Ian Kennedy.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 months ago

Signing Lee Makes Sense For KC

Breaking News

Now that they've officially re-signed star left fielder Alex Gordon, the Kansas City Royals can focus on improving their starting rotation. Former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee could be just who KC needs.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

MLB• 2 months ago

Royals Re-Sign Gordon, Ensure Stability

Breaking News

The Kansas City Royals are fresh off a World Series victory and the biggest signing in franchise history. Despite this move inducing questions, KC fans should be thrilled.

Comment

0 Comments