KC Royals Rumors: KC Packaging Wade Davis, Ian Kennedy

The KC Royals are packaging closer Wade Davis and Ian Kennedy in trade talks with potential suitors, according to Yahoo.com’s Jeff Passan. The Los Angeles Dodgers are thought to be the best fit, since they need a closer and can afford to take on Kennedy’s salary.

Passan tweeted this rumor Thursday morning:

SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo reports that the Dodgers have spoken to the Kansas CIty Royals about Davis, but isn’t sure if they have considered Ian Kennedy.

This rumor becomes rather interesting if you add it to the report from WHB 810 in Kansas City that the KC Royals are close to a long-term extension with first baseman Eric Hosmer. Moving Ian Kennedy and Wade Davis would clear about $72.5 million in payroll and make a Hosmer deal much more financially sound. Plus, one would expect that the Kansas City Royals would demand cost controlled young players and near major-league ready prospects in return.

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One intriguing idea would be for the Dodgers to deal troubled outfielder Yasiel Puig along with a top pitching prospect like Jose De Leon to the KC Royals, plus some lower-level prospects in return for Wade Davis and Ian Kennedy. Puig could fill the Kansas City Royals hole at right field with a ton of tools and upside in what would be a fresh start for him. De Leon was ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the no. 44 overall prospect in baseball and is ready for promotion to the major leagues.

Throw in hard-throwing minor-league reliever Frankie Montas who touches triple digits with his fastball and perhaps a young lottery ticket like 19-year-old OF Yusniel Diaz and you could have something that works for both sides. Notice that this package preserves the Dodgers top two prospects in starter Julio Urias and 1B/OF Cody Bellinger. Plus, it would meet the Kansas City Royals need for major-league level talent in the short term, while helping them blunt their expected talent exodus after the 2017 season.

Such a deal would bolster both of the KC Royals biggest weaknesses for the 2017 season, while freeing up money to keep some of their potential free-agents that expect to hit the market before 2018.

The fact is the Dodgers both have the minor-league talent and capacity to make such a move, plus a need for a top flight reliever. Also, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman and Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore also have a history of doing the James Shields/Wade Davis for Wil Myers blockbuster three years ago. Thus, we know these guys can work with one another.

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This rumors sounds too reasonable to be complete fiction. I have to think the KC Royals front office has to be seriously considering such a move.