Kansas City Royals Rumors: SP Dan Straily

The Kansas City Royals sound like they have one more move in them before the deadline. Over the last 24 hours they appear to be zeroing in on a certain LHP in Toronto. However there may be better fish in the sea.

Notice what I did there? The Kansas City Royals need to play to win now and at the same time think about the future. News came out yesterday that the Miami Marlins were making RHP Dan Straily available for trade. (MLB Trade Rumors report here.)

Straily would fit what the Royals need perfectly. He is a solid mid-rotation pitcher. He has a 3.84 ERA in 21 games this season. To go along with that are 107 Ks and a 1.185 WHIP. Since the start of the 2016 season Straily has worked to 7.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 rates while getting ground-balls at a 33 percent clip.

He is also very affordable. For a team like the Kansas City Royals, who have a team high payroll this year, that is huge. Straily is making $552K this season and will be arbitration eligible for the first time this off-season. That gives any team acquiring him at least three more years of control.

Straily was traded from the Reds to the Marlins this past off-season. Miami sent a package of prospects to Cincinnati so it is safe to assume they would look to recoup a similar amount of talent. Acquiring Straily won’t be a cheap option, but one that makes since for the Kansas City Royals.

A package headlined by either LHPs Eric Skoglund or Foster Griffin would seem to be a logical starting point. While it is not an easy decision to make, Straily’s multiple years of control makes dealing top pitching prospects easier swallow.

Next: Meet the Newest Royals

As we enter the weekend expect deals around the league to start flying. Seems like the Kansas City Royals are set on making at least one of them. Who will be the next player to put on the royal blue? It could be Dan Straily.