MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 moves the Royals need to make

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TORONTO, ON – JULY 24: Francisco Liriano #45 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre on July 24, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

4. Find a starter

The Royals are reportedly kicking the tires on Toronto Blue Jays starter Francisco Liriano. The left-hander’s struggles this year should wipe out most of his trade value. Liriano is 6-5 with a 5.99 ERA and is walking nearly five per nine while giving up ten hits per nine.

The Blue Jays shot some life back into Liriano last year after picking him up from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had a 2.92 ERA in ten appearances and 49.1 innings. Prior to last year’s trade, he was 6-11 for the Pirates with a 5.46 ERA and an even worse walk rate than this season. Getting back together with Russell Martin helped Liriano initially, but that has not carried over to this season.

Pursuing Liriano is not the worst idea for the Royals as it would not take more than a mid-tier prospect to get him. Still, expecting him to “find it” in Kansas City is a stretch. Pitching to Martin, one of the best pitch framers in the big leagues, has not helped Liriano this year. Salvador Perez is routinely one of the worst pitch framers in the league, so he would not be much help to the left-hander.

The need for a starting pitcher is there for the Royals. Adding Trevor Cahill was a nice move, and he has had a solid year in his return to a starting role. Shoulder issues have limited Cahill to only 11 starts this year. If the Royals do get another starter — perhaps a Dan Straily or Scott Feldman type — Jason Hammel may be the odd man out in the rotation shuffle.

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