Kansas City Royals Options to Fix the Rotation

Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

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.

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