MLB Trade Rumors: Kansas City Royals looking for relief pitchers

If you had to identify one definite area of strength for the Kansas City Royals, it would likely be their bullpen. The formidable duo of Wade Davis and Greg Holland in the back end of games is something few teams can match.

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Surprisingly enough, that perception of the Royals might not be totally accurate as far as the bullpen as a whole. The team actually ranks 19th in the big leagues in bullpen ERA with a 3.68 mark. That’s not to say that they are terrible, but they certainly are not elite as a unit like one might assume based on the presence of Davis and Holland.

Put in that context, this tidbit from Nick Cafardo on Friday night makes a bit more sense than it might at first glance.

Besides the overall performance of the bullpen, this type of trade would make sense for the Royals because of the relatively low cost of acquiring relievers. They can add a quality arm, even if the guy is not a big name, without giving up a ton in terms of prospects. For a team that does not need a major move and already made a splashy trade to build their current roster, some sort of understated trade for bullpen depth makes sense.

In a market with few sellers, the Royals can still look to teams like the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and even the Colorado Rockies for upgrades in the bullpen. Trades for quality middle relievers might not make big news, but they are the kinds of deals that push contenders over the top. That’s what the Royals are hoping to accomplish.