MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Blue Jays should make
3. Trade Steve Pearce and Ezequiel Carrera to the Royals
Like the Blue Jays, everyone wrote off the Kansas City Royals after a disastrous start to the season. And, like Toronto, the Royals came back strong early in the summer and inserted themselves back into the postseason conversation.
Kansas City is in a different position than the Blue Jays, however. Having built a World Series winner over the long haul, the Royals window to get back to meaningful October baseball is closing. Big names like Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and surprise All-Star Jason Vargas are among the core players scheduled to hit free agency over the winter. Because of its roster situation, after climbing back to within two games in both the division and Wild Card standings, expect K.C. to go for broke.
Alex Gordon has a huge disappointment in left field for the Royals this year, hitting .191/.283/.291 with just five home runs and 27 RBI. Because of Gordon’s struggles at the plate, the Royals rank dead last in the National League and 28th in the majors in fWAR (-0.2) at the position.
Gordon is hitting .184 with a .211 slugging percentage against lefties. Therefore, the Royals might have an interest in supplementing left field with a lefty killer like Steve Pearce, who despite also struggling this season, has hit .266/.348/.499 against southpaws in his career.
In addition to Pearce, Ezequiel Carrera would give the Royals depth in the outfield. The 30-year-old has hit .284/.349/.421 with seven home runs in 72 games this year, and Carrera can play all three outfield positions and provide speed off the bench.