MLB trade rumors: Blue Jays, Royals close on Francisco Liriano

The Kansas City Royals are close to bolstering their pitching with a Toronto Blue Jays starter.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Toronto Blue Jays are close to a trade that would send Francisco Liriano to the Kansas City Royals.

Liriano’s name has been coming up a lot as the trade deadline approaches, but this is the first rumor to truly materialize.

Liriano has been subpar for the Blue Jays this season. He is 6-5 with a 5.99 ERA. However, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that teams that look to acquire Liriano would use him out of the bullpen.

While the 33-year-old hasn’t been at his best this season, he has been effective against left-handed hitters, which could work wonders in relief. Lefties have just a .646 OPS against him and he has only allowed one walk to a lefty all season. Meanwhile, he has 16 strike outs against left-handed batters.

Liriano could work very well as a situational reliever to get out a difficult lefty or two. Kansas City is seventh in the majors in bullpen ERA with a 3.77. However, that mark is not going to cut if the Royals want to return to the World Series.

Liriano will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, so a team looking to make a playoff run, like the Royals, could pick him up with no strings attached.

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At the start of play on Thursday, Kansas City was two games behind the Cleveland Indians in the race for the American League Central. However, they currently hold the second wild card spot, but the field is very crowded. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are out of playoff contention. They currently sit in last place in the talented AL East.

Liriano could be an important piece in the Royals success come September and October.