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KC Royals Enter The Most Pivotal Month Of The Season

By Bryon Parman

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (right) and owner David Glass celebrate with the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals won the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (right) and owner David Glass celebrate with the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals won the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 19, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr and his “dad” entertain fans prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr and his “dad” entertain fans prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Where Do The Royals STand?

Well as of July 2, Kansas City is 42 – 37 and 6 games behind the AL Central leading Indians. The Indians are in the midst of a historic hot streak winning their last 13 games in a row.

Certainly Cleveland is going to lose again at some point, they may even go cold and rattle off an equally impressive losing streak (I doubt it with their pitching but it could happen). So the KC Royals will have some opportunities to close the gap.

The old adage was to try and be no more than 6 or 8 games out of first by the All-Star break to determine if a team should go for it.

Well that’s exactly where the Kansas City Royals are right now with the All-Star break only a few weeks away. However, with respect the the Wild Card, if the playoffs started today, the KC Royals would have the 2nd wild card spot.  

If the Royals standing stays about where it is right now for the next few weeks, Kansas City’s management will likely conclude that the team has another shot at a title.

Essentially, all this boils down to the fact that, if the Kansas City Royals standing stays about where it is right now for the next few weeks, it is likely that Kansas City’s management will conclude that the team has another shot at a title. Which, in turn, means the KC Royals will likely be a buyer at the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline on August 1st. My guess is that KC will go after a starting pitcher (kind of obvious right?).

On the other hand, if the Kansas City Royals have another 8 game losing streak between now and then with a few other series losses, it becomes doubtful that KC will wager more of the farm to make another title run. In this scenario, KC Royals players who are not team controlled after 2016 like Kendrys Morales, Edison Volquez, and Luke Hochevar, may be dealt for players who can help in 2017 and beyond.

Next: Kendrys Morales, The Sleeping Giant Awakens

My guess, based upon how the season has gone so far, is that the KC Royals will still be in the division hunt by the end of the month, and/or will at least be a wild card contender. This means the Kansas City Royals will be buyers and we already know what they will be shopping for.  My only hope is the pitcher they acquire has a better 2nd half of the regular season than the last SP rental…..because the KC Royals will need it.

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