MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for J.D. Martinez

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 13: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Detroit Tigers runs to first base after hitting a solo homerun during the ninth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 13, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 30: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals waits for the water bucket dunk by Salvador Perez #13 after the Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 8-1 to win the game at Kauffman Stadium on June 30, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

3. Kansas City Royals

The Royals were pegged as deadline sellers by the end of April when their record hit 7-16. Since bottoming out, Kansas City has gone 36-24 and has been one of the best teams in the American League. As the league prepares to head into the All-Star break, the Royals are not only tied for the second wild-card spot, but are only 1.5 games out of first place.

A KC sell-off is simply not going to happen at this point. With Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, Jason Vargas, and Whit Merrifield enjoying career years, there is no way Dayton Moore and the front office can justify punting on the season. This is the last year for the core to buckle up and go for an epic ride in the second half, and a front office cannot waste that no matter how bleak the offseason looks with three big pending free agents.

The corner-outfield spots have been a real weakness for the Royals this year. Alex Gordon continues to slump and has an OPS below .600, which is an even bigger step down from a disappointing 2016 season. Jorge Soler, the return in the Wade Davis trade with the Cubs, has been a disaster in right field, and playing Jorge Bonifacio in a full-time role is not the answer. Brandon Moss was signed to provide thump at DH, but is slugging below .400.

Dinking and dunking their way with strings of singles has been the Royals way since they rose to power back in 2014. Their attempts at adding power with names like Soler and Moss have mostly fallen flat. Martinez is a much better answer because he has the contact skills that fit with everything else the Royals already do well. It may not be best for the long-term health of the franchise, but the Royals need to take a shot this season and hope that one or two of their big names can be convinced to stay.

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