The Royals front office has been inundated with trade inquiries at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Washington D.C. The Cubs, Cardinals, and Dodgers are interested in dealing for Kansas City stars on short-term contracts.
Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore must feel like the prettiest girl in the room with all the attention he’s getting at baseball’s Winter Meetings. The Dodgers want Lorenzo Cain and Wade Davis. The Cubs are kicking the tires on Danny Duffy and Wade Davis. Meanwhile, the Cardinals like Jarrod Dyson.
The Dodgers have shown interest in Royals closer Wade Davis and outfielder Lorenzo Cain, sources say. Unclear if KC ready to sell.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) December 5, 2016
Per source, the #Cubs are talking to the #Royals about SP Danny Duffy along with reliever Wade Davis
— Sean Sears (@seanrsears) December 5, 2016
Among CFers in whom #STLCards are expressing interest, per sources: #Royals’ Jarrod Dyson. Potential FA, lower acquisition cost than Cain.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
Don’t Expect The Royals To Hold A Fire Sale
However, KC Royals manager Ned Yost insisted to MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan that Dayton Moore isn’t looking for a fire sale:
"“I think there’s just a lot of rumors out there,” Yost said on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings. “Dayton would never trade anybody just to save money. He’s not going to do that. If he’s going to trade somebody, it’s going to make our club better.“Again … the majority of our core after 2017, you know, are all going to be free agents. Dayton is a great guy that can look into the future and figure out how we make our club better now and for the future. I think he’s very open-minded, and I think he’s been looking at everything, you know, that could accomplish both of those goals — to make us better now and for the future. The GM job is hard, man, it’s hard to piece all that together. But he does a great job of it.”"
Dayton Moore reiterated that #Royals may make a trade or two here but that this is not a garage sale. Expects team to compete for title
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) December 5, 2016
KC Expects To Compete In 2017
More from KC Royals Rumors
- KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
- KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 2 update
- KC Royals Rumors: Club should pass on this Yankee
- MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: KC Royals at a glance
- KC Royals Rumors: Is club pulling the trade trigger?
The Kansas City Royals aren’t just going to pack it in on 2017. Any trade they make has to at least leave the team competitive next season. However, that requirement doesn’t preclude a deal. The KC Royals still face a massive exodus of talent after the 2017 season that includes stars like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Danny Duffy, Jarrod Dyson, and Wade Davis. Tagging all of these players with qualifying offers and collecting draft picks will create a long gap before Kansas City could expect to contend once again.
Dayton Moore’s Strategy
I just don’t see Dayton Moore accepting such a future. He cut his baseball teeth with the Atlanta Braves while they were in the middle of winning the N.L. West in 13 of 14 years. I think Moore wants his Kansas City team to come as close as they can to replicating such a run.
Pretty much the only way Moore can accomplish such a feat is to cash in his short-timers for major-league ready young talent.
In fact, Ned Yost indicated as much to MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan:
About those Jarrod Dyson trade rumors, Ned Yost said it would be hard to part with anyone, but may have to to get better. #Royals
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) December 5, 2016
Moore also hasn’t just limited his options to trading guys in the final years of their contract. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, he’s also listening on offers for pitchers Ian Kennedy and Yordano Ventura:
ICYMI: Latest on #Royals, who will listen not just on potential free agents, but also Kennedy and Ventura. https://t.co/mXCz7kAbLH
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
Next: KC Royals: Five Questions Heading Into The Winter Meetings
Keep your ears open, KC Royals fans. There’s a whole lot of smoke around Kansas City players at the Winter Meetings and a deal makes sense.