Where Does Jarrod Dyson Go?

Oakland and Baltimore have both expressed interest in Royals OF Jarrod Dyson according to rumors from the Winter Meetings. Who could Kansas City get back from those two teams?

With Jorge Soler the newest member of the KC Royals, Jarrod Dyson appears to be expendable and Paulo Orlando seems destined to be a fourth outfielder.

(That being said, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Dyson and Orlando to platoon in right field and Soler to be a full-time designated hitter.)

Oakland, Baltimore and St. Louis all have shown recent interest in Dyson. So what could the Royals realistically get back from those clubs in a trade?

Oakland Athletics

What would Oakland, a team in constant rebuild mode, give up for one year of Dyson? And what are the Royals looking for? We’re betting it’s someone ready to contribute almost immediately. Kansas City’s front office has insisted they haven’t given up on 2017.

Here’s three options:

• Option 1: Dyson straight up for 24-year-old middle infielder Chad Pinson.  Oakland’s No. 7 prospect after the 2016 season, Pinson hit .258 with 14 homers and 23 doubles in 107 games for Triple-A Nashville last year. He had a monster 2015, batting .317 and clubbing 15 homers and 32 doubles in 117 games of Double-A ball. Pinson would compete for the job at second base right away.

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• Option 2: Dyson for 24-year-old RHP prospect Jharel Cotton who came over to Oakland in the Rich Hill deal. Cotton went 8-5 with a 4.90 ERA for Triple-A OKC last season, but he improved to 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA with Triple-A Nashville once he was traded from the Dodgers’ system to the Athletics. He made five big league starts for Oakland at the end of the season, going 2-1 with 2.95 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 29.1 innings. Baseball America has Cotton ranked as Oakland’s fourth-best prospect. He’d likely compete for the fourth or fifth spot in the Royals’ rotation.

• Option 3: Dyson for former Royals reliever Ryan Madson. After resurrecting his career with Kansas City in 2015 – he posted a 2.13 ERA over 63.1 innings – Madson could bolster the Royals bullpen again in 2016. He ended last season with a 3.62 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

Baltimore Orioles

Trying to stay competitive in the AL East, the Orioles have been inquiring about fleet-foot outfielers like Dyson and Atlanta’s Mallex Smith.

Here’s some options for how they could land Dyson:

• Option 1: Dyson for 1B/DH prospect Trey Mancini. The Orioles No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America, Mancini could plug in at DH for the Royals. He’s had back-to-back solid minor league season, hitting .341 with 21 homers and 89 RBIs in 136 games of Single-A and Double-A ball in 2015 and .282 and 20 home runs in 142 games between Double A and Triple A in 2016.

• Option 2: Dyson for RHP Oliver Drake: The rare 29-year-old “prospect,” Drake converted to a reliever after toiling in the minors as a starter. In 47 games for Triple-A Norfolk last season, Drake struck out 79 batters in 56.1 innings while recording 10 saves and posting a 2.72 ERA. He could be a bullpen piece for the KC Royals in 2017.

Next: Get to know new KC Royals OF Jorge Soler

• Option 3: Dyson for RHP Brad Brach: A member of Baltimore’s stellar bullpen last year, Brach had a 2.05 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 79 innings last year. The 30-year-old reliever would help restock the Royals’ own relief core.