Kansas City Royals: Do Not Be Surprised With Quiet Break

To start with the flashier name, the Royals have been rumored to be looking at Sonny Gray of the A’s.

While Gray is having an off year, posting a 5.16 ERA, his career thus far indicates that he is much better than that. In his first full year in 2014, he posted a 3.08 ERA over 219 innings and in 2015 he posted a 2.73 ERA over 208 innings, while finishing third in the Cy Young voting. The best part of Sonny Gray is that he isn’t eligible for free agency till 2020.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to trade for a rental within the division and then the next six to seven years have to play whoever is given up.

Unfortunately, in order to attain Sonny Gray, the Royals will more than likely have to give up Raul Mondesi and other top prospects in the organization. That type of move would help solidify your rotation, but hurt your position player options come 2018.

The second tier pitching option is Ervin Santana.

Santana has posted a 4.01 ERA thus far in 2016, but being on the Royals in 2013 he was able to post a 3.24 ERA. Again though, unfortanately there are two downfalls to Santana. He is a free agent after the 2016 season, and he is within the division.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to trade for a rental within the division and then the next six to seven years have to play whoever is given up. Santana might not require an elite prospect like Mondesi, but with a limited system like the one the Royals have it could still be harmful to the future success of the Royals.

Next: More rumors