MLB Trade Deadline: The ultimate 30-team trade
8. Kansas City Royals
LHP, Derek Holland
Trades between division rivals don’t always make sense, but when a team is looking to capitalize on the best offers available at the trade deadline – especially when shipping out soon-to-be-free agents – sometimes the best trade fit exists within the division.
The Royals fought back from the edge of extinction to pull into a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays for the second AL Wild Card spot Sunday, and entered the week with a 50-47 record, which puts them in second place in the AL Central just 1.5 games behind the Indians. In an effort to capitalize on the final year of their own impending free agents’ contracts, including first baseman Eric Hosmer, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and All-Stars Mike Moustakas and Jason Vargas, expect Kansas City to go for broke at the trade deadline.
The target that makes the most sense for the Royals is Melky Cabrera, who would help what has been the worst combined left field (0.1) and DH (-1.3) fWAR in the American League. Alex Gordon still has value as a defender in left, but he has hit .205/.295/.306 with five home runs this season. Brandon Moss has contributed a .210/.283/.424 slash as the team’s primary designated hitter, and Jorge Soler has spent the majority of the season on the DL or in Triple-A.
On paper, Derek Holland would also provide depth in the rotation after Nate Karns was sent to the disabled list. Holland, who has posted a mediocre 5.12 ERA and ugly 6.01 FIP this season, isn’t one of the top targets on the trade market. Also, K.C. traded for Trevor Cahill Monday. Therefore, the Royals would flip Holland to the Pirates.