KC Royals: 6 Trade Targets After Losing Moustakas, Gordon

The KC Royals could use some help after losing third baseman Mike Moustakas for the season. News came Thursday that Moustakas tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his right knee after consulting an orthopedist. That help could come from the trade market.

Sunday’s collision between Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas turned from bad to devastating when the team learned Moose would miss the rest of the season. It was bad enough that Gordon will miss three to four weeks with a broken hand. General manager Dayton Moore’s immediate response was to summon outfielder Brett Eibner from Omaha.

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Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore knows that the time for his team to win is now. His roster is filled with playoff-hardened veterans who already have won two AL pennants and one World Series title.

They also know they have a chance to go down in baseball history as a dynasty.

However, the Kansas City Royals have some obstacles when it comes to adding players on the trade market. Moore compromised their pitching pipeline when he dealt five left-handed hurlers for Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto last summer. The KC Royals also jacked up their payroll to a franchise-record $132 million last winter.

As a result, the Kansas City Royals don’t have a lot of trade chips and they can’t take on big salaries.

Rumors are already swirling that the KC Royals have expressed interest in Atlanta’s Nick Markakis and Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce, however those players have clear warts. Dayton Moore should explore moves for the following players who could provide more help:

Next: A Surprising Ace

1) Oakland A’s Pitcher Rich Hill

Rich Hill might be the guy that could help the KC Royals more than any other player available at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old Hill has transformed himself from a career journeyman into an ace by changing to a full overhand motion from a sidearm slot a few years ago.

Last fall, Rich Hill was pitching in the independent Atlantic League before the Red Sox signed him to contract. In four starts with the BoSox, Hill lasted more than 7.0 innings per outing with more than 10 strikeouts in each game.

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That performance attracted the notice of Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane, who inked Hill to a one-year $6 million deal and inserted him into the A’s starting rotation.

In 10 starts this season, Hill rewarded Beane’s faith with a 2.18 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 57.2 innings (10.2 K/9). Going back to last season, Hill held opponents to less than three runs for 14 consecutive starts.

That, ladies and gentleman, is called giving your team a chance to win every time you take the ball.

We know that Dayton Moore and Billy Beane can make deals. Last summer they came together to move Ben Zobrist to the KC Royals in exchange for Sean Manaea and Aaron Brooks to the A’s. But, Rich Hill is in high demand as a short-term rental since he’s providing ace performance at a moderate price.

Does Dayton Moore have the chips to win another bidding war? Maybe not, but he certainly has the incentive to make the deal. Hill could be the ace the Kansas City Royals need to carry them through October.

What could help keep Hill’s price reasonable, however, is both his age and his track record. There’s a chance Hill could still turn into a pumpkin, which could bring his prospect price into the KC Royals range.

Next: The Best Alex Gordon Substitute

2). Oakland A’s OF Josh Reddick

Perhaps Dayton Moore could land fill both of his biggest holes (outfield help AND a starting pitcher) by pulling off one mega deal with Billy Beane. In that case, the A’s will have turned the KC Royals organization into their very own prospect pipeline.

Reddick is also in the last year of his contract, signed for a very reasonable $6.5 million deal for 2016. At 29, Reddick is right in his prime and is slashing an outstanding .322/.394/.466 with 5 home runs and 18 RBI’s.

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Reddick also possesses a strong arm, can run the bases a little bit (4 steals), and is getting on base (though his career OBP is only .316). Not only has Reddick won a Gold Glove in 2012, he also hits left handed.

There isn’t a better Royals-type outfielder available.

Heck, Reddick’s 13.3% contact rate is BETTER than Alex Gordon. Reddick would help reverse the KC Royals surprising strikeout problem. Reddick does have a thumb injury with a return timetable similar to Gordon’s. But, it will likely take some time for the KC Royals decide if Orlando/Dyson can be a permanent solution in right.

Reddick could also take over at designated hitter if Kendrys Morales doesn’t turn his season around and Paulo Orlando keeps hitting.

A Josh Reddick/Rich Hill package would prove a huge boost to the Kansas City Royals roster in their battle for the AL Central. However, such deal would likely require the KC Royals surrender top prospect Raul Mondesi Jr. as part of the compensation package.

A lot of teams will want to add these low-cost, high production pieces for the stretch run.

Next: Best Third Base Possiblity

3) Los Angeles Angers 3B Yunel Escobar

I fully expect the KC Royals to give Cheslor Cuthbert the first crack at replacing Mike Moustakas. Behind Cuthbert, 24-year-old Hunter Dozier crushed AA and is now thriving at AAA Omaha with a .297/.324/.521 triple slash after two mostly lost seasons stuck at AA.

However, if neither prove up to the job, and utility infielder Whit Merrifield also fails, the Kansas City Royals could seek help on the trade market.

Really the only appealing candidate that figures to be available in the near future is the Angels Yunel Escobar.

Los Angeles is 21-26, and if they continue to wallow as the trade deadline approaches. 33-year-old Escobar could be an attractive trade chip. Escobar, who has played shortstop most of his career, is currently slashing a fine .314/.371/.427 with 12 doubles and 3 home runs after hitting .314/.375/.415 for the Nationals last season.

Escobar is signed for this season at a very palatable $7 million, in addition to a $7 million team option in 2017.

The added bonus is that Escobar is someone very familiar to Dayton Moore since Escobar was drafted and developed by the Braves while Moore was Atlanta’s player personnel director.

Next: A Young Ace To Headline Rotation

4) Atlanta Braves P Julio Teheran

A deal for 25-year-old Julio Teheran would be a very different type of move from the ones above. Teheran would remain under team control through the 2019 season, and is signed for a very reasonable $25 million over the next three seasons—plus a $12 million team option in 2020. His current deal is an even more team friendly $3.3 million in 2016.

Long considered a top prospect in the game, Teheran is putting up a strong 2.57 ERA this season in 10 starts, with a solid 8.4 K/9. Teheran ate up more than 200 innings each of the last two seasons, and earned an All-Star bid for this 14-13, 2.89 ERA season in 2014.

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So, yeah, Julio Teheran could become the ace the Kansas City Royals need over the next two seasons. He’d make a great addition to the team’s current core and would be a great help for their goal of establishing  themselves in baseball history as a dynasty.

In other words, people, Julio Teheran would COST.

Yet, if Dayton Moore is going to make a huge deal like this, the Atlanta Braves would be a comfortable trading partner for him. Though Moore left the Atlanta front office ten years ago, both he and his primary lieutenants in Kansas City grew up in the Atlanta front office and have many friends there still.

In short, Moore will trust the men he’s dealing with and know that Teheran has been developed in a way consistent with his philosophy in Kansas City.

I know the idea seems counter-intuitive given KC’s need at third base after losing Moustakas. But, a deal for Teheran could make rotation depth available to trade that could help land Yuniel Escobar or another third base fill in if Cheslor Cuthbert or Hunter Dozier aren’t up to the job.

Landing Teheran would require that Moore strip mine his farm system. It would take Raul Mondesi for starters, and probably the KC Royals prospects closest to helping the big club. Add in Hunter Dozier, Miguel Almonte (or Kyle Zimmer if Atlanta thinks he can stay healthy), plus a promising lower minors arm like Ashe Russell could maybe get the deal done.

Ouch.

The beauty of a Teheran deal, however, is that with four years of team control, the Royals could trade him after the 2017 season to restock their talent pipeline. Even if the Kansas City Royals WERE willing to deal their best prospects, however, they could still get outbid by teams with stronger farm systems.

Next: Time To Buy Low?

6) San Diego Padres OF Melvin Upton, Jr.

After two lost seasons in 2013 and 2014, Upton bounced back to post a tolerable .259/.327/.429 slash line in 2015 for the Padres when they took him as part of a salary dump to get reliever Craig Kimbrel.

Elevated to a starting outfield job in 2016, Upton has been a pleasant surprise hitting a solid .253/.324/.416 with 6 home runs, 13 extra base hits, 18 RBI’s and 9 steals in 12 attempts.

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Upton is still 31-years-old and remains one of the most athletic players in the game. He plays plus defense as a corner outfielder, and can hold down the fort in center. Overall, he looks like a good fit for the Kansas City Royals, except for his 26.4% strikeout rate.

Even though Upton is hardly a keep-the-line moving kind of player, he does have the athleticism that he Royals covet.

As for his contract, Upton is signed for $15.4 million in 2016 and $16 million in 2017. That’s not unreasonable when teams are paying around $8 million per expected WAR (Wins Above Replacement) on the open market.

Next: How KC's Walking Dead Offense Rose From The Grave

In the end, the KC Royals are unlikely to make a move as long as they believe utility man Whit Merrifield, outfielder Paulo Orlando, outfielder Brett Eibner, and rehabbing starting pitcher Mike Minor can get the job done. But, these are the six best trade market alternatives if they falter.