MLB Trade Rumors: Toronto Blue Jays discussing trade with Royals for Billy Butler

Sep 18, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Billy Butler (16) connects for a single in the eighth inning of the game against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

The MLB Winter Meetings are going on in Orlando right now which is less about the owners actually meeting and more about it being a trade convention. With all these baseball executives in the same room, trade talks are swirling and one of the names being discussed is Kansas City Royals first baseman Billy Butler.

According to Jeff Blair, the Royals and Toronto Blue Jays have had discussions about a trade that would send the Royals stud to the Blue Jays for a package of prospects.

Jays source tells me Royals-Jays have talked re. Billy Butler/prospects. Gibbons/Seitzer connection with KC makes sense.
— Jeff Blair (@SNJeffBlair) December 12, 2013

This move makes sense while it also will rub Royals fans the wrong way. After pulling off a trade to land James Shields last year from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Royals dug into their prized farm system to do so. Kansas City is good enough to compete now but could still looking ahead to the future and could use some top prospects in their system to come in and make a mark.

Toronto could also swap Adam Lind for Butler and prospects, which seems like a very likely case considering the Jays current roster at the first base and DH spot. Talks haven’t really gone far but it doesn’t take much to get them past that this time of year.

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