KC Royals: 3 potential trade partners for RP Ian Kennedy

Watching Ian Kennedy create history last season for the KC Royals was exciting but the team needs to trade him to a contender in 2020.

When you are only the fourth player since 1969 to accomplish a feat, you are in pretty select company.  Such was the case when Ian Kennedy nailed down is 30th save for the KC Royals on September 16th, 2019 against the Oakland A’s.  He joined a club only Dennis Eckersley, John Smoltz and Derek Lowe have been to before.  The 20-win, 30-save club.

It was not what the team had in mind when they inked Kennedy to a large contract in January of 2016 but after two years of struggling as a starter, it was a nice rebound.  Fresh from a stint with the San Diego Padres, Kennedy went 11-11 but pitched better than that with a 1.221 WHIP and ERA+ of 117 in his first season with the KC Royals.

What followed the next two years was a combined record of 8-22, his highest WHIP since 2013 and WAR’s of 0.5 each season.  After a hot start in April in his first season as a reliever, Kennedy saw his ERA creep from 1.15 on May 1st to 4.37 on May 29th following back-to-back outings that resulted in one blown save and one loss.

A light seemingly flicked on in June and he recorded eight saves in his ten appearances striking out multiple batters in just one inning of work six of those occasions.  Nine saves followed in July and although August only yielded four saves, Kennedy nailed down six more in his first seven September games that catapulted him to 30 for the year.

Admittedly, it will be most likely not be a blockbuster trade for Kennedy as he will be a free agent following this season and heading into his age-36 season.  There are a handful of teams who could easily be playoff contenders and going into this year they may need a veteran with success coming out of bullpen to make the final push.  We will look at three potential partners.

Face the facts:  The Colorado Rockies has a fetish of taking former KC Royals pitchers who post high save totals.  See Wade Davis and Greg Holland.

Yes, Wade Davis has been named the closer to start 2020 for the Rockies.  After a successful 2018 season in the mile-high air, Davis had a horrible year last season posting an 8.65 ERA, walking 29 in 42 2/3 innings and a -1.3 WAR.  If he falters again, Scott Oberg is waiting in the wings.  Oberg struck out 58 in 56 frames and had an amazing 232 ERA+ when adjusted for his home ballpark.

It is well-known that Coors Field can demoralize pitchers and Colorado always need hot arms in the bullpen.  Insert Kennedy who could bring stability to a pitching staff that will need relief for tired arms and bruised psyches to come late summer.  It also may be a stretch that they will be in the playoff hunt but the offense could push them to stay in the race.

There are other options to consider, but an interesting trade would involve sending Riley Pint back to the Kansas City area.  The Rockies took Pint out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park fourth overall back in 2016.  They may have had their fill of him as his minor league career has produced 3 wins in 40 starts, a 5.71 ERA and 1.80 WHIP.

Would a change of scenery help Pint relax and become the pitcher he was back in high school when he was the 2016 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year?  I would be willing to give up an older relief pitcher who would probably not be re-signed by the Royals next season to see if this 6’5″ right-handed hurler with a cannon for an arm and is still only 22 years old can reclaim that magic.

Although they go into 2020 with the same closer as past two seasons, the Washington Nationals may need help in the bullpen as they try to repeat.

Sean Doolittle was very effective in his first two seasons saving games for the defending champions.  He did close out another 29 games successfully in 2019 but saw his WHIP jump by .70 points and ERA blossom 2.45 points.  His ERA+ was also cut in half.

If Doolittle continues his struggles, Washington could look to the trade market to shore up the bullpen.  Getting to the playoffs to defend their title would make them more willing to bite on a rental for the remainder of the season.

Having pitched in San Diego and Arizona for five years, Kennedy is no stranger to the National League.  His addition would add a steady hand and plenty of experience to maintain composure in a potentially chaotic postseason run.

One potential player that the KC Royals could shoot for in a trade is Reid Schaller, a third-round pick in 2018 from Vanderbilt.  He pitched well his first pro season in ’18 and looked good in a full year in the South Atlantic League.  In 12 starts his ERA was 3.29 and he struck out 47 batters in 52 innings while only giving up 38 hits.

Back in August, he took the Royals farm club the Lexington Legends to task striking out eight in six and two-thirds frames. Schaller has some serious heat and a fantastic mustache as well…check out that Rollie Fingers inspired upper lip hair on his MiLB profile.

While we are grateful for the effort Kennedy gave us this year while entering a select club, having a pitcher save 30 games for a team that won 59 overall is like having the best field goal kicker on a 2-14 NFL team.  What the Royals need is to get a bit of value for a team that can convert those saves into a playoff bid.