Kansas City Royals Options to Fix the Rotation

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One of the hallmarks for the Kansas City Royals over the past few seasons has been the strength of their pitching staff. When James Shields came aboard prior to the 2013 season, the starting rotation was finally in a position to match the excellent bullpen that Dayton Moore had put together. When Shields departed as a free agent, and Edinson Volquez was signed as a replacement, most pundits wondered if that would be enough.

While Volquez has been solid this season, the Royals rotation has struggled. After Duffy, the second lowest ERA of any of the Royals starters belongs to Danny Duffy, who has a 4.55 ERA in his six starts. The Royals rotation, as a whole, has posted a 4.41 ERA, which is 21st in baseball. That is certainly a long way from what we have all come to expect from this team.

Likewise, the Kansas City Royals had been a solid collection of pitchers that could amass innings. Shields, Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie were all capable of pitching 200 or more innings per season, helping to limit the usage of the Royals excellent bullpen. This season, the Royals are only 25th in innings pitched by their rotation. This was certainly not the plan.

With that being the case, there is talk about the Royals already being a team that could look to land a starting pitcher prior to the trade deadline. If the Royals were to dabble in such a market, they certainly have the prospects to land one of the bigger names available. In fact, Buster Olney has even speculated that the Royals could target Scott Kazmir or Mike Leake.

So, what can the Kansas City Royals do about their rotation? Let us look at a couple of players that could be available for trade, and some other options that the Royals may look to pursue.

*stats as of 5-7*

Next: The patient approach

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Insert Chris Young and/or Kris Medlen in the rotation.

The buzz around Chris Young as a possible rotation option for the Kansas City Royals certainly grew last week when he pitched five no-hit innings against the Detroit Tigers. He struck out nine batters while giving the Royals something that they just had not had this season. Naturally, it was time to remove Guthrie from the rotation and to put Young in that spot.

Kris Medlen, meanwhile, would be more of a long term plan. He began throwing off of a mound two weeks ago, and has yet to actually begin his rehab assignment. Even when he does, Medlen is not expected in Kansas City until the end of June or early July, at which point, he is expected to pitch out of the bullpen initially. If Medlen is to have a starting role, it likely would not come until August.

Of the two options, Chris Young would seem to be the most likely. However, as Ned Yost has stated that he is going to give Guthrie a chance to work through his struggles, Young is likely to remain as the Royals long reliever. However, if after a couple of more starts, Guthrie continues to struggle and leave the Royals bullpen with the unenviable task of trying to get five or six innings, then Young may be given that chance.

If the Royals do decide to make a change, and take an internal route, Chris Young is likely to get the first crack at the spot. However, he is not the only option that the Royals may have, even if we remove Kris Medlen from consideration.

Next: Look to the minors

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Give Yohan Pino, Brandon Finnegan or someone else a chance.

If the Kansas City Royals determine that Young is not a fit in the rotation and still want to give someone a chance, they have plenty of pitching depth in the minor leagues. Yohan Pino, who was just sent back to Omaha when Greg Holland was activated from the disabled list, would certainly be an interesting choice. He pitched 10.2 shutout innings during his time in Kansas City, allowing seven hits while striking out eight batters. In his one start in Omaha, Pino allowed only one hit in seven innings, striking out six. He has certainly had an excellent start to his tenure in the Royals system.

Perhaps another option would be to give Brandon Finnegan a chance. While he has been strictly a reliever when he has been brought up to the majors, Finnegan has been stretched out as a starter while pitching for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He has, however, struggled thus far, posting a 1.571 WHiP, belying his 3.86 ERA. Chances are, Finnegan would need a bit more time before being a viable option.

The Kansas City Royals also have Joe Blanton and Clayton Mortensen in Omaha, both of which have experience starting in the major leagues, even if neither have pitched in the majors since 2013. Blanton, a complete reclamation project for the Royals, has pitched relatively well, producing a 3.74 ERA and a 1.158 WHiP. Given that Mortensen has struggled to this point, producing a 5.49 ERA and a 1.576 WHiP, Blanton may be the more likely of the two to be called up.

Of the possible moves that the Royals would make to solve their starting rotation problems, this may be one of the least likely. However, Pino has pitched well, and Finnegan may well prove that he is ready for the majors over the next month or two.

Next: Trading for Mike Leake

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Trade for Mike Leake from the Cincinnati Reds.

The trade market for starting pitching is going to be interesting over the next couple of months. As teams fall out of contention, different players will start to be made available. Already, rumors have swirled around pitchers like Mike Leake and Scott Kazmir. Let’s begin by taking a look at the Reds righty.

Pitching this season at age 27, Leake has had an excellent start to his 2015 campaign. Leake has posted a 2-1 record with a 2.47 ERA and a 0.870 WHiP. While he is not a strikeout pitcher, Leake has struck out 27 batters against 10 walks in his National League leading 43.2 innings of work. The Royals could use a starter capable of pitching deep into a ball game, and Leake has certainly done so thus far, failing to pitch at least seven innings only once this year.

For as well as Leake has pitched since the start of the 2013 season, putting together a 3.44 ERA and a 1.212 WHiP, those numbers could be even better if he was to be traded to the Kansas City Royals. While he is an extreme ground ball pitcher, generating a ground ball on 50% of balls put in play, Leake would get to pitch in front of the stellar Royals defense. For as many accolades as the outfield receives, the Royals infield defense is just as good and would be a step up from what he has in Cincinnati.

The price for Leake could also be manageable. A free agent after this season, Leake may not have the same price tag that other potentially available pitchers, like Cole Hamels, would have. It may only take a couple of solid prospects, including a pitcher, to get Leake, and the Royals do have an abundance of minor league arms.

Of the possible trade targets, Mike Leake may be the best fit for the Kansas City Royals. However, he would not be the most interesting to the group.

Next: Oh, you again

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Trade for Scott Kazmir from the Oakland A’s.

When we last saw Scott Kazmir, it was during the Three Days Hate known as the Kansas City Royals series against the Oakland A’s from April 17th through 19th. Kazmir hit Lorenzo Cain in the foot on a 0-2 pitch, which eventually led to a fastball behind Brett Lawrie and Kelvin Herrera being ejected. Those were fun times.

While Kazmir may not have a strong fanbase among Royals faithful, he would be an interesting target to upgrade the rotation. He had worked his way back from being out of baseball at the age 27 after suddenly losing his ability to pitch, signing a minor league deal with the Indians after pitching well n the Winter Leagues. His performance in Cleveland was enough for the A’s to sign Kazmir to a two year contract, making him a free agent after this season.

So far in 2015, Kazmir has produced a 2-1 record with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.017 WHiP, striking out 40 batters in 39.1 innings of work. Unlike pitchers like Vargas and Guthrie, Kazmir would be another strikeout pitcher to pair with Duffy and Ventura, potentially giving the Kansas City Royals a formidable front four to the rotation.

Unlike Leake, Kazmir does not have any discernible tendencies with the batted ball. Over his career, Kazmir has given up a fly ball on 41.3% of balls put in play, and has a 39.8% ground ball rate. With the Royals stellar defense, Kazmir’s solid numbers, just like Leake, could only improve.

The only question is, how well would Kazmir fit in to the Royals clubhouse after the debacle in April? It may not be worth finding out, especially given the perfect chemistry that the Kansas City Royals seem to have.

Next: Might as well dream big

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Pry Cole Hamels away from the Phillies.

Quite simply, Cole Hamels is the pitching prize of the trade deadline. A bona fide ace, Hamels has had trade rumors swirling about him for the better part of the past year due to the ineptitude of the Philadelphia Phillies and their mainly incompetent General Manager Ruben Amaro.

While Hamels has struggled thus far in 2015, posting a 4.14 ERA and a 1.351 WHiP, those statistics are not truly indicative of his talent. In his career, Hamels has a 109-86 record to go along with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.146 WHiP. A true workhorse, Hamels has averaged 213 innings over the past five seasons, pitching more than 200 innings each year. Add in the fact that Hamels has struck out nearly a batter per inning over his career, and it is easy to see why teams would be lining up to acquire the Phillies ace.

However, there are two issues with trading for Cole Hamels. First, he is owed $70.5 Million over the next three seasons, and has either a $20 Million team option, a $24 Million vesting option or a $6 Million buy out. Add in his salary for this season, and that is quite a bit of money. However, Amaro may be willing to eat some of that contract, but only if he gets back two top prospects as well as other talent to replenish a barren system. Um…..

In theory, the Kansas City Royals could have the talent needed to pry Hamels away. If the Phillies are willing to eat a large amount of his salary, then such a move may be doable. It would certainly send a message that the Royals plan on competing for the foreseeable future. This move, however, just does not seem feasible.

Hey, if we’re going to dream, we may as well dream big. Maybe the Royals surprise us all, and bring in a true ace to front their rotation.

Next: What should the Royals do?

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When it comes to the Kansas City Royals pitching staff, there are several directions that Dayton Moore could take. While some of these scenarios are more realistic than others, each of these may be under consideration as the Royals look to find a way to bolster a starting rotation that has struggled thus far.

So, which option would you choose? Should the Royals look to make a trade or try to solve the problem internally? Should they mortgage the farm for a pitcher like Hamels or should they remain patient? Let us know and vote in the poll below!

Next: Royals Trying to Sign Alex Gordon to Extension