Royals Rumors: Realistic Trade Targets For KC Royals

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Mat Latos (35) – Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Pitchers The KC Royals Could Target

Before we get started, you may notice there are some obvious names not listed below — Scott Kazmir and Jesse Chavez of the Oakland Athletics. Both have been mentioned quite a bit as potential targets for the Royals this trading season, but the reason I didn’t list them is because Kazmir left his last start because of a triceps injury, and Chavez has been trending downward a little.

Mat Latos was traded to the Marlins this past off season. He has struggled with injuries so far this year, and was really getting hit hard early in the season.

Prior to leaving his last outing with a foot injury, Latos had been pitching much better since coming off a DL stint in late May. Latos is only under contract for the remainder of this year, which makes him a prime trade candidate since the Marlins are certainly going to be in sell-mode.

Dan Haren has very quietly put together a strong season despite pitching for a bad Marlins team (7-5, 3.24 ERA, 1.07 WHIP).  He is a west coast guy, and will certainly have a preference to be traded back to the west coast, but should he end up in our fly-over territory, his style of pitching would certainly be effective.

Similar to Edinson Volquez, Haren is a sinker-ball pitcher, and theoretically would thrive pitching in front of an elite defense like the Royals feature.  Like Latos, Haren is only under contract until through 2015.

Next: More Pitching Targets