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Johnny Cueto Rumors: Reds, Royals almost agreed to deal

By Josh Hill

Jul 1, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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The MLB trade deadline is this week, but Johnny Cueto was almost traded well ahead of time to the Kansas City Royals

We are just a few days away from the busiest trade day of the baseball season, as the MLB trade deadline is pass on Friday and teams are gearing up to make deals they think will get them to the World Series. Not every team that will be a making a trade will be doing so because they’re in contention, as for every buyer we have a seller on the market.

The Cincinnati Reds will be among the sellers on the market, and Johnny Cueto is perhaps their best asset to move. Teams are lining up to try and make a deal at the deadline for the ace pitcher, but he was almost dealt well ahead of the deadline to the Kansas City Royals.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, the Red and Royals had an agreement in place to swap Cueto to Kansas City but the deal fell through.

The Royals have been one of the many teams mentioned in rumors for Cueto and he seems like the type of piece that could get the team back to the World Series this year. One thing that bolstered the Royals last season was a solid pitching staff and a stellar bullpen, and adding Cueto would at the very least boost the front-end of the Kansas City staff.

Much of the Royals bullpen is still intact from last season, and if they can grab an ace starter guaranteed to start at least seven shutdown innings then that will give the bullpen an extra boost. Rather than stretch their relievers out, the Royals can effectively have an off-night go sorts.

There is still a chance a deal gets done between the Reds and Royals that involves Cueto, but it would appear the Royals have missed their chance to get him. Then again, this could be perceived as Kansas City having their foot in the door to make a deal happen, but only time will tell — time that is quickly running out.

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