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KC Royals: Why Trading For Nick Markakis Makes Sense

By John Viril

Apr 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) reacts after being called out on strikes by umpire Mark Wegner (14) against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) reacts after being called out on strikes by umpire Mark Wegner (14) against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier (60) throws the ball to first base during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier (60) throws the ball to first base during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

2) THE KC ROYALS HAVE THE TRADE PIECES

One of the more encouraging developments of the 2016 season has been the resurgence of some formerly stalled prospects in the Kansas City Royals system.

Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, third baseman Hunter Dozier, and third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert all are having breakthrough seasons at the plate in the high minors after two seasons of mostly running in place. At this point, the KC Royals organization has more depth than it appeared a few short months ago when Baseball America ranked them the 21st best minor-league system in baseball.

Right now, the KC Royals appear to have a number of near major-league ready players that can play right field and third base. Yesterday, I suggested that Dayton Moore try some of the internal options  to boost right field production. My co-editor here at Kings of Kauffman, Ryan Heffernon, wants the team to call up Brett Eibner.

While I still agree with this idea, the argument against it is that the Kansas City Royals are a team with championship aspirations and can’t afford to put up with rookie growing pains when they need to make up 6.5 games on the Chicago White Sox and are scoring 3.62 runs per game. Markakis represents veteran production that should help the team the moment he arrives.

Plug and Play rather than hope is what the KC Royals need right now.

I’m thinking that the Kansas City Royals could deal someone like 24-year-old Hunter Dozier to the Braves plus an arm that the Braves like from the lower minors in return for Markakis. In an ideal world, Dayton Moore would be able to persuade the Braves front office to take back Omar Infante’s contract as a salary dump, but such a deal might require a better headline prospect than Dozier.

Bonifacio plus a good lower-minors arm might get such a deal done, but the KC Royals could need a pair of outfielders in the near future with right field in need of a long-term solution and Lorenzo Cain poised to hit free-agency after 2017. I’d rather deal a third baseman like Dozier, who had Cheslor Cuthbert and Mike Moustakas ahead of him.

Next: Nick Markakis Has A Reasonable Contract

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