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

3. Look for cheap power

The Royals rank 29th in MLB with an OPS of .621 from their left fielders. Alex Gordon’s struggles have continued and offseason trade pickup Jorge Soler has been sent down to the minor leagues a second time. Brandon Moss has split his time between the outfield and DH and has been a disappointment at both spots.

Power is not necessarily the most important part of the Royals offensive attack, but their team batting average is down to 11th in the American League, they rank 13th in runs and they are still dead last in on-base percentage. There has been more power in Kansas City with Mike Moustakas on track to approach 40 home runs and Salvador Perez pushing 30. Jorge Bonifacio has been a nice find in his rookie year with 14 home runs in 77 games.

Gordon is the big problem for the Royals as his game has completely fallen apart since signing a four-year deal before last season. Relegating him to the bench down the stretch is not a move that manager Ned Yost can make very easily. Gordon is a clubhouse and fan favorite.

Moss, however, can be stuck on the bench with little issue if the Royals can swing a trade for a power bat. Alex Avila and Jay Bruce are out there waiting to be plucked off the trade block. Avila is the cheaper option, but the New York Mets may be willing to eat a majority of the cash remaining on Bruce’s deal. The market for his services has yet to really develop and the Mets need to move him and create playing time for younger players in this lost season.