The Five Best Trades in Royals History

6 of 7

With 411 trades over just about 45 years, some moves will be better than others. That is just the nature of the business. Even a trade that seems to be favorable for a team at the time can prove to be disastrous years later. Such is the benefit of hindsight.

While it is inevitable that some trades work out better than others, there are also a number of moves that are fairly even. In those trades, both teams receive pieces that they can use. Those trades are the ideal, where both sides improve, be it in the future or in the present.

Last week, we looked back at the five worst trades in Royals history. While those trades were painful to go back and remember, these deals from today will be a lot more pleasant to look back upon. For today, we look back at the five best trades in Kansas City Royals history, those trades that helped shape the Royals into a contending franchise.

Hopefully, with the trade deadline fast approaching, the Royals will be able to make another move that, someday, could end up on an updated version of this list.

1973 Kansas City Royals Picture Pack

5. Fred Rico for Cookie Rojas (June 13, 1970)

Fred Rico’s major league career spanned 14 games, all of which came for the Kansas City Royals in their first season. A career minor leaguer who played in the outfield, third and catcher, he was the type of player who worked well as organizational depth, to be brought to the major league level in only the most dire of circumstances. Yet, the Royals managed to get a former All-Star second baseman in Cookie Rojas from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Rico.

Rojas did not play much for the Cardinals over the first two months of the season, appearing in only 23 games and producing a terrible .106/.176/.106 batting line. Yet, when he came over to Kansas City, his ability to hit reappeared, as he produced a .260/.296/.326 batting line for the rest of the season.

That new found ability was just a precursor for how he would preform over the next few seasons. Primarily known for his defense in an era of defensive minded middle infielders, Cookie Rojas hit well enough to earn four consecutive All-Star berths from 1971 through 1974. In those years, Rojas produced a .276/.324/.360 batting line. His OPS+ of 95 may not seem great, but for the time frame, that was quite solid.

Rojas helped solidify the middle of the Royals infield for the early part of the 1970’s, and was a part of the beginning of the Royals great, decade long run of dominance. Not a bad return for a career minor league player.

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

4. Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi for James Shields and Wade Davis (December 9, 2012)

This is a trade that, if the Royals end up making the playoffs, could move higher up the list. Should the Royals fail to reach the postseason, and either Myers and/or Odorizzi turn into stars for the Tampa Bay Rays, then this trade could end up on last week’s list. However, this trade makes the best trades list for one reason – hope.

This trade sent a message to the Royals fan base that they were, finally, planning on going for it. Now was the time to end the playoff drought, and to get out of the rut of mediocrity. While the Royals failed on their quest for the postseason, the 86-76 record put together in 2013 was their best season since 1989. Hope had come back.

While Myers and Odorizzi have struggled at times for the Rays, Shields and Davis have been essentially everything that the Royals could have asked for. Shields has stepped in as the ace that the Royals have needed, and while Davis failed as a starting pitcher, he has turned into perhaps that best setup man in baseball.

The acquisition of James Shields and Wade Davis helped change the mindset and the direction of the Royals. Hopefully, that trade can also change something else – a lack of postseason baseball in Kansas City.

1983 Donruss Action All Stars Hal McRae

3. Richie Scheinblum for Hal McRae (November 30, 1972)

Scheinblum is notable in Kansas City Royals history mainly for being the last person to wear the number 5 prior to George Brett. He also was an All-Star in 1972, posting an admirable .300/.383/.418 batting line. After that season, the Royals sent him over to the Cincinnati Reds for Hal McRae. Scheinblum appeared in 22 games for the Reds before being sent to the California Angels, only to come back to Kansas City partway through the 1974 season.

McRae, meanwhile, spent fifteen years with the Royals, and was a key part of the Royals run through the mid 1970’s through the mid 1980’s. Despite not being a full time player in Cincinnati, he blossomed in such a role in Kansas City, producing a .293/.356/.458 batting line with 169 home runs and 105 stolen bases. McRae even served a stint as the Royals manager, guiding the team from 1991 through 1994.

A three time All-Star in Kansas City who finished as high as fourth in the MVP vote twice, Hal McRae twice led the American League in doubles and in RBIs once. His 1976 season was truly special, as he produced a .332/.407/.461 batting line, as he led the AL in on base percentage while finishing second in batting average and OPS+.

McRae was a key component of the Royals run of greatness. Not a bad return for a player who lasted only 22 games in Cincinnati and eventually came back to the Royals.

1991 Stadium Club Jeff Montgomery

2. Van Snider for Jeff Montgomery (February 15, 1988)

At one point in time, Van Snider was considered to be a very solid prospect with the potential to be a solid major league outfielder. Jeff Montgomery had struggled with the Reds, and appeared as though he may be a middle reliever at best. Instead, Snider appeared in 19 major league games, producing a .200/.194/.314 batting line. Montgomery, meanwhile, became one of the best closers in Royals history.

Over his twelve year career in Kansas City, Montgomery produced a 44-50 record, saving 304 games with a 3.20 ERA. Montgomery tied Dan Quisenberry‘s mark for the most saves in a season in Royals history, earning 45 saves in 1993, since broken by Greg Holland. Those 304 saves are the all time mark for a Royals closer. Montgomery has etched his name into the annuls of Royals history.

A three time All-Star, Jeff Montgomery may have never received a vote on the Cy Young ballot, but he did finish 13th in the MVP balloting in 1993. That season, along with those 45 saves, Montgomery had a 7-5 record with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.008 WHiP. In his 83.1 innings of work, Montgomery allowed only three home runs. He produced his lowest walk rate of his career, allowing only 23 free passes, while recording 66 strikeouts.

You never know how a prospect will turn out. Van Snider certainly was not what the Reds expected that he would be, while Montgomery became one of the best closers in Royals history.

1973 Kansas City Royals Picture Pack Amos Otis

1. Joe Foy for Amos Otis (December 3, 1969)

Joe Foy produced a solid year during his only season with the Kansas City Royals, producing a .262/.354/.370 batting line with eleven home runs. He may have deserved to be the Royals first All-Star during that inaugural season, as Foy was easily one of the better players on the Royals that season. However, his greatest impact upon the Royals may have been his being the player that brought Amos Otis over from the New York Mets.

Otis had 67 mediocre games for the Mets before he was sent over to the Royals. Once in Kansas City, he blossomed into one of the catalysts of the Royals speed based offense of the 1970’s. In his 14 years in Kansas City, Otis produced a .280/.347/.433 batting line, hitting 193 home runs and stealing 340 bases, including a league leading 52 in 1971.

Amos Otis was a five time All-Star in Kansas City, including the first four seasons after he was acquired from the Mets. More than just an offensive weapon, Otis was also a three time Gold Glove winner, recognized for his excellent defense in center field. Possessing a strong arm, Otis still ranks 12th all time in double plays by a center fielder with 35.

Otis was one of the best players in Kansas City Royals history. To get him for a player who only appeared in 140 more games n his career was truly a great deal.

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

It is important for a team to bring in talent any way possible. Trades, especially for talented younger players, certainly help. As the previous trades illustrate, the Royals were able to build a large part of their perennial playoff contending core from such trades.

Schedule