Kansas City Royals Rumors: What’s next on the market?

Kelby Tomlinson, San Francisco

I really, really, really wanted to include Wilmer Flores in this spot. Really, really, really. I’ve been a Flores fan since he sobbed on the field at the thought of being traded to Milwaukee two seasons ago.

But it doesn’t make much sense for the Mets to deal a controllable asset for prospects, especially not to the Royals, whose positions of strength—arms and corners—don’t really line up with the Mets needs.

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But Kelby Tomlinson? Kelby Tomlinson and his Harry Crane rec specs are a perfect fit.

Tomlinson is the sort of Swiss Army knife player Whit Merrifield would be if he weren’t so good he needed to be on the diamond every single day. His power won’t blow you away but he’s an above-board fielder at a number of premium positions and can more than handle the stick at the dish.

He’s been a role player in San Francisco for three seasons and doesn’t need a ton of at-bats to be useful.

Even more perfectly, the Giants already have Conor Gillaspie, who gives them most of the same things Tomlinson provides. And San Francisco’s continued ineptitude in the bullpen means Tomlinson could be had for an upper-tier Quad-A prospect (Seth Maness?) that provides the Giants another arm who may not be a disaster. Insert something about beggars and choosers here.

Next: Super-Whit

The Royals don’t need to make all these moves (adding Jarrod Dyson and Ichiro, for example, would be madness); they don’t NEED to make any of them. But a couple more tweaks to the roster could have the Kansas City Royals looking a whole lot better a week from now.Knsas