Kansas City Royals Options to Fix the Rotation

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

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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Be patient and let the staff work through their issues.

One had to figure there would be growing pains with both Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy this season. For as well as they both performed last season, both Ventura and Duffy have struggled in their new roles atop the Kansas City Royals rotation. Perhaps it has to due with their increased expectations, but neither pitcher has been even close to what the Royals have expected.

The same statement can hold true for both Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie. While we are talking about the Royals fourth and fifth starters, Vargas and Guthrie have combined for a 5.93 ERA and a 1.537 WHiP. In their ten starts, both pitchers have combined for 54.2 innings of work. Not exactly the innings eaters that the Royals expected.

Yet, we are not even five weeks into the season. If we are truly going to consider one month as a measuring stick of future success, the the White Sox should be concerned about Chris Sale and his 5.93 ERA and the Indians should look at the extension they just signed Corey Kluber and his 5.04 ERA to with dread.

One has to figure that, almost by default, the Kansas City Royals rotation will improve. The rotation is not likely to be Edinson Volquez and four pitchers that struggle to get through five innings. There is simply too much talent for this to remain the case all season.

However, if patience does not work, then maybe the Royals already have options.

Next: Looking within the organization

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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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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