The Kansas City Royals made a bold move on Tuesday and optioned starting pitcher Yordano Ventura, who they signed to a $23 million contract prior to the 2015 season, to Triple-A Omaha. Does this change their trade plans before the deadline?
It's not every day you see the best team in the American League (and second-best in the MLB) struggle mightily with their starting rotation. The Royals' bullpen is absolutely lights-out, but their starters own a 4.32 ERA (24th in MLB) and are dead last in the league with just 343 strikeouts.
One doesn't need advanced metrics to understand that's bad.
If it weren't for the Royals' sixth-ranked offense, it's highly unlikely they would be 56-36 and leading the AL Central by 6.5 games over the second-place Minnesota Twins and 10.5 games over the Detroit Tigers.
But things are starting to change for Kansas City. Alex Gordon is out until at least the beginning of September and Ventura, who was on track to become the rotation's future ace, is in the minors. Jason Vargas also left last night's game with an apparent arm injury. Trade rumors have already linked them to available outfielders and pitchers on the market, but will they now look to make an even bigger splash?
"With Ventura being sent to the minor leagues and with Vargas getting hurt like this, I think this virtually guarantees that the Royals have to do something," ESPN's Tim Kurkjian told ESPN Insider Buster Olney on the Baseball Tonight Podcast. "They're going to have to do something even if it means giving up one of their best young kids. Maybe Johnny Cueto is one step closer to ending up there."
"They've obviously had conversations with Cincinnati about Johnny Cueto," Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star added on the podcast. "He makes a ton of sense even with some injury risk."
That link has been documented in previous rumors, but something else could be brewing within the next nine days.
"If and when David Price is put on the market, I think the Royals really have to look long and hard into that," he added. "You're going to have to give up a lot for David Price and I wonder if the Royals will be willing to pull the trigger on a deal like that."
However, McCullough noted the Royals are likely more inclined to pursue the "middle" or "second tier" of pitchers on the trade market, such as Mike Leake, Dan Haren or Aaron Harang. He indicated their farm system isn't deep enough (beyond Raul Mondesi Jr.) to make a blockbuster deal (like one for Price) and other teams will likely ask about Ventura and Danny Duffy, which the Royals probably won't want to part ways with.
For example, the Royals have been in talks with the Cincinnati about Cueto, but Reds' general manager Walt Jocketty told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he's "been talking with a lot of different people but we haven't been receiving offers that have us wanting to commit." Perhaps the Royals were one of those "people."
Whatever the case, Royals' general manager Dayton Moore will now be tasked with ensuring the rotation is prepared to survive down the stretch, which is looking like the top priority. He may have to swing a deal that stings a little bit if the Royals want another shot at the World Series.
UPDATE: The Royals have recalled Ventura due to Vargas' injury.
