The MLB trade deadline on August 1st is rapidly approaching, and the trade rumors are starting to heat up. One team that has been the subject of several rumors is the Kansas City Royals. Plagued by injuries this year, the Royals are still 45-43 and in the thick of the wild card race. That would put the Royals in the buyers column, unless something drastic happens. With that in mind, here all the latest Royals trade rumors below.
Royals worried about losing Cain, Hosmer
Kansas City is enjoying their current run of success with their core group of players, but according to FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman, the front office is concerned about their ability to keep that core together - specifically when it comes to Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer:
It’s a call also complicated by the fact that their key players, a smarter-than-average lot, can start to see the window closing from here. The Royals are said to have had only preliminary talks with Cain, if that, with one person close to that situation saying only that K.C. “tip-toed” around numbers. And while they haven’t necessarily had formal talks with Hosmer, either, they’ve talked enough to understand where his camp stands, and there’s no sense there’s much optimism for a long deal — at least not yet.
Hosmer, absolutely loved by Royals higher-ups as a clutch leader and a very fine two-way player who has put up nice-though-not-crazy offensive numbers in a pitchers’ park but who may just be scratching the surface offensively, has two years to go before free agency. Consistent power is the only thing Hosmer hasn’t shown in spades, and there are signs this year; earlier, he hit two opposite-field homers off A.L. All-Star starter Chris Sale. Hosmer’s camp isn’t tipping their hand, but Royals brass, which stepped up with a $70-milllion deal for free agent pitcher Ian Kennedy and $72 million for another core star Alex Gordon, seems to have an idea Hosmer could be seeking $20-million plus per year on a 10-year deal.
Both Cain and Hosmer will be unrestricted free agents after the 2017 season, with Hosmer being up for arbitration this offseason.
Ramping up pursuit of Hill?
With All-Star Drew Pomeranz now off the trade market after being dealt to the Red Sox, the Royals plan to ramp up their pursuit of Rich Hill. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports, the Royals are one of the teams showing the most interest in him.
Hill is being watched closely by teams. Every time he pitches, he draws a crowd. In a 3-1 win over the Astros in which Hill went six innings, allowed one run, and struck out 10, he drew scouts from the Red Sox, Royals, Orioles, and Blue Jays.
It’s now a question of which team will offer the most. Coming back to Boston would likely be Hill’s No. 1 choice, but he’s not saying that publicly.
Hill is 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 starts this season.
Back to the Kansas City Royals Newsfeed