It begins... Trade speculation: Kansas City Royals

[clarknova]

So, I haven't read the article because I don't read his articles/blogs, but apparently Geoff Baker reported that the Kansas City Royals are tracking James Paxton in the Arizona Fall League. This is not surprising, intriguing, or in any way unexpected, but it has led to some early offseason trade speculation, and there's not a lot of posting going on... And I've had a lot of coffee this morning... So...

The Royals are the anti-Mariners, you might say. They have a veritable treasure trove of young bats at every stage/level and virtually no front line pitching prospects or major leaguers. They have the tools to build a powerful offense, but no aces in the system. Their (arguably) best pitching prospect, Mike Montgomery was demoted to double A after struggling mightily in triple AAA. He was rated pre-season as their 3rd best prospect. Jake Odorizzi emerged as their best pitching prospect in 2012 and made the team as a September call up. Other than him, their system is really hurting for starting pitching.

Considering that their system was still rated #5 pre-season by Baseball Prospectus tells you something about the bats in their system. Seattle was ranked #7 and that was weighted by Jesus Montero, but wouldn't have been far off had Pineda been in his place (pre-season).

I've thought for quite some time that the Royals would be an ideal trade partner for the M's. Their strengths are our weaknesses and vice versa. I follow a Royals blogger on twitter and he is salivating over Paxton. The names Baker apparently threw out there were Alex Gordon and Billy Butler. I don't see Butler as a fit over other players they have, but that is not to say I wouldn't like to have him on our side.

In order to pry away any of their major league hitters, it might take more than Paxton, and I don't see them trading Wil Myers for him, although I would freak out if somehow they did. Gordon is a good hitter and an outfielder. Crazy fun fact (I thought it was weird anyway)- Gordon (28) is two years older than Butler (26).

The Royals also have Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, and the probably untouchable Bubba Starling.

They're looking at our pitching, and of course they are. They wouldn't be doing their jobs if they weren't. I'm sure we're all over their young bats as well.

I'd be happy with Gordon, or Butler although Butler would undoubtedly be the end of Justin Smoak which, I mean, whatever... I'd do cartwheels for Myers, but I think he'd cost more than Paxton. Moustakas and Hosmer would both be selling low for KC as they both struggled at the big league level last(this) season.

Any thoughts, ideas, preferences?

[clarknova]

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/27/3887811/are-royals-interested-in-mariners.html


A disclaimer: None of this is meant to suggest a trade is close or that it would involve Gordon or Butler. In fact, the Royals are unlikely to surrender a proven major-league player for an unproven minor-leaguer in a straight deal.


Above is a link to a post about it in the Kansas City Star. It always cracks me up when people on both sides overestimate the value of their team's prospects and players. They're worth what you can get for them, and the particular situation each team is in dictates their value as well. Good hitting outfielders are worth less to the Royals than they are to the Mariners and there is something to be said for the whole, "proven major leaguer" deal, but let's be serious- The Mariners would have to consider Kyle Seager for Wil Myers wouldn't they? Seager is a "proven major leaguer". Of course, that wouldn't make any sense because the Royals have Moustakas but my point is it's not apples for apples. You can't just say because player X is still just a prospect you can't trade him for player Y because he's a big leaguer. The majors can increase a players value, but also expose flaws especially when they're young. The Royals will have to pay for a front line starter, or a projected front line starter. The Mariners can afford to part with one, just like the Royals can afford to part with a young stud hitter. The Mariners don't have to trade with the Royals though and they can wait for the right deal or target specific players like they did with Pineda. The Mariners need a really good hitter or a projected all star caliber hitter. It's going to cost them at least one of their top starting pitching prospects and possibly Nick Franklin. If the Royals don't want to "surrender a proven major-league player" for one of the "big three", then it's Wil Myers or no deal.

Again... This is really not a story, but I'm susceptible to "specumation". It's more of a "things that make you go hmmmm..." tid bit.

[LeFrançais]

Agree, there are no real trade value... The value of a player depend on how much an other team is ready to offer to fill its own needs. The work of the organisation is to find that team. Kansas City is in a clear need of pitching, probably as a lot of teams are. And we are in clear need of offense... but we're not alone (yeah I know we're last...).

Trading with the Royals ? If the price is right why not, I prefer to trade high regarded prospects to an other division (or league if possible) instead to division foes. I don't know which player in particular the M's are targeting (if they really are) but all I can remember is that Butler has been tough against us all year and had a good year, Hosmer was supposed to be much better. Gordon or Moustakas had good years too.

Considering those options is normal I think... It should be easy to make it a win-win trade but there are 28 other teams to deal with. And every one one of them has needs...

[georgmi]

I'd hate to see them give up Nick Franklin for anybody, unless they've decided he's not going to stick at short.

As far as the minor-league pitchers, I feel like we've enough depth there to be listening to offers for pretty much any of them.

[tim mitchell]

Hosmer,Wil Myers for Justin Smoak, Paxton, and a lower level pitching prospect.

[clarknova]

Sounds like the Royals just acquired Ervin Santana from the Angels. The return is unknown as of right now.