Kansas City Royals May Not Be Done Upgrading Roster

Well, so much for the narrative that Dayton Moore and the Kansas City Royals would not make a splash at the trade deadline. It is understandable why expectations were minimal; after all, in Moore’s tenure, the Royals had yet to make such a move. Then again, the Royals had never been in this position either.

Well, Moore and the Royals shattered that perception by getting what may well have been two of the three biggest pieces that were known to be available at the time. Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist are now with the Royals, fortifying a starting rotation and a lineup that had been in desperate need of help. After years of being a doormat for the rest of the American League, the Royals are suddenly the odds on favorites to win the World Series.

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Naturally, these two trades fuel the expectations that the Kansas City Royals are done when it comes to upgrading their roster. After getting Cueto, taking care of the ace they needed, and Zobrist, allowing a replacement for Omar Infante when Alex Gordon returns, the Royals appear to be set. However, no one expected Dayton Moore and the Royals to make the moves they made earlier.

Even if another blockbuster trade is not likely to be coming down the pike, there are still a couple of areas of concern. Franklin Morales has done a tremendous job in the Royals bullpen, posting a 2.16 ERA and a 0.936 WHiP, but he is the only left handed reliever currently on the team. Brandon Finnegan had done well in that role, but to quote Bill Belichick, he is on to Cincinnati.

Likewise, the Royals could still look to upgrade at either right field or second base, depending on where they intend on playing Zobrist once Gordon returns. While Alex Rios has been on a hot streak lately, with a .313/.360/.422 batting line during the month of July, it may be fair to wonder as to whether or not he can continue to produce at that level. Infante, meanwhile, has cooled off considerably, posting a .200/.231/.400 batting line since the All-Star Break.

Chances are, the Royals will not be making another blockbuster trade. Any moves they make are likely to be minor in scope, and may well focus on adding another lefty to the bullpen or in adding a depth player to the roster. However, just because they already made two bigger moves does not mean they are done tweaking the roster entirely.

The Kansas City Royals may not be done making moves with an eye towards the postseason. Any moves may not be major, but Dayton Moore may well find another opportunity to upgrade the roster in the next couple of days.

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