Kansas City Royals: Second Base Trade Market

Jul 8, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu (9) fields the ball in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Coors Field. The Angels defeated the Rockies 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

I haven’t heard any rumors regarding LeMahieu, but the Colorado Rockies should be in sell mode sitting in last place in the NL West at 42-52. They’re 11 games behind a Wild Card position.

LeMahieu would be an interesting get in that he’d be a long, rather than short, term solution at second for the Kansas City Royals. The 27-year-old LeMahieu won’t even be arbitration eligible until 2016, and can’t become a free-agent until after the 2019 season.

DJ LeMahieu would also be a great fit with the KC Royals due to his outstanding defense. LeMahieu ranks fourth among all major-league second basemen with a 6.3 DEF rating at Fangraphs.com. His Ultimate Zone rating is an excellent 4.9, with a UZR/150 of 12.3.

DJ LeMahieu is also enjoying a terrific season at the plate. He’s slashing .314/.370/.403, though his hitting might include some Rocky Mountain helium. LeMahieu has hit a much more pedestrian .274/.321/.338 away from the high elevation of Coors Field. This season’s numbers are much better than LeMahieu’s career slash line of .285/.327/.371. He’s also enjoyed a ludicrously high .375 Batting Average Balls In Play this season, significantly higher than his career .340.

Thus, many scouts think LeMahieu’s offensive prowess this season might be a one-year exception, rather than career breakthrough.

Even so, DJ LeMaieu gets on base, and plays defense. He LOOKS like a Kansas City kind of player, and he’d be more than a rental. He could solve the team’s long-term struggle to find a solution at second that Omar Infante was SUPPOSED to be when he signed a 4-year, free-agent deal in 2013.

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