KCKingdom
Fansided

Royals Rumors: Matt Adams Trade Potentially in the Works

By Leigh Oleszczak

May 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (32) walks back to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. The Cubs won the game 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (32) walks back to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. The Cubs won the game 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Royals rumors have been popping up more frequently in recent days and one that has just surfaced involves St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams potentially being traded to the Kansas City Royals.

The KC Royals are looking to build on what they’ve accomplished over the past few seasons, and they might need to do a few more trades in order to contend in 2017.

Just recently, the Royals have been linked with St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams, according to Bob Nightengale on Twitter. Nightengale tweeted the news on Tuesday, shortly after the Royals had added Peter O’Brien to their roster (yet another trade they’ve recently made).

Dayton Moore is a great general manager and has given the fan base no reason to question his logic. Adams is a first baseman, but the 28-year old would be a great designated hitter candidate for this ball club.

Adams didn’t have one of his best seasons hitting wise last year with a slash line of .249/.309/.471 in 118 games and 297 at bats. With St. Louis planning to move Matt Carpenter over to first base, Adams isn’t as much of a necessity for them anymore.

Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote,

"Because both Carpenter and Adams swing from the left side of the dish, there’s no potential for any kind of platoon scenario, and with a 6’3″, 260-pound listing, Adams isn’t likely to find much success in an already-full Cardinals’ outfield."

Steve Adams also agreed with me on that Matt Adams would likely spend time as a designated hitter in Kansas City. Adams can’t be a DH for the Cardinals because they play by the NL rules, which involves having the pitcher bat. I know, it’s silly. Thankfully the Royals are in the AL.

More from KC Kingdom

What about the payroll, you ask? Steve Adams discussed that in his article, which I linked above.

"The Royals are actually trying to pare down the payroll a bit, but Adams is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn an affordable $2.8MM salary in 2017, so the Royals could find a way to squeeze him into the payroll. As a bonus, Adams is controllable through 2018 via the arbitration process."

To sum up, Matt Adams is affordable, could be a useful piece in the lineup on a daily basis, and maybe someday if necessary could replace Eric Hosmer at first base should the team not be able to re-sign him after this season. The Royals are likely starting to think about things like that.

This is just the latest piece in the Royals rumors puzzle, so this isn’t to say that Matt Adams is a member of the Kansas City Royals yet. There’s probably a good chance he won’t be at all, depending on what the Cardinals want the Royals to give up for him.

"Put another way, it seems unlikely that the Royals or any other team would have a strong sense of urgency to swing a deal for Adams unless the cost of acquisition was truly palatable."

There are still some decent free agents out there that the Royals could obtain, but their payroll might not allow it. Perhaps Matt Adams ends up being the answer or perhaps he isn’t, and the Royals go in a different direction.

Either way, it’s nice to see Dayton Moore is right in the thick of things and trying to continue to make this team a contender.

Home/Royals Rumors