KC Royals: Five Bold Predictions For 2016

The Royals Will Trade For Brett Anderson At the Trade Deadline

Last season, the Royals did everything in their power to ensure they’d have the firepower to finish the job they started in 2014. The Royals were involved in not one, but two major trades that saw them on the buying end of the trade instead of the selling end.

They brought in Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist at the trade deadline in 2015 and it’s hard to argue that the trades didn’t pay off. It would be a much different discussion had everything ended in Houston in game four of the ALDS, but the Royals’ ‘never say die’ attitude prevented that.

Look for the Royals to make another trade this season to help bolster their rotation. This year, they’ll trade for left-handed starting pitcher Brett Anderson.

Why the trade makes sense for both parties:

• The Dodgers lineup doesn’t look good. With both Arizona and San Francisco making big improvements, the Dodgers may be looking to sell by the trade deadline
• The Dodgers have a seemingly endless supply of not only starting pitchers, but left-handed starting pitchers
• Brett Anderson is a free-agent following the 2016 season
• The Royals only left-handed starting threat is Danny Duffy, who seems better suited for the bullpen
• Because Anderson is a free agent next season, his cost may not be all that high

While Brett Anderson has spent a lot of time on the disabled list in his career, he put together a mostly healthy 2015 season. He pitched to a 3.69 ERA in just over 180 innings of work. When he’s healthy he looks like an appealing piece for the Royals to add.

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