Kansas City Royals: Should Edinson Volquez Be Traded

The Kansas City Royals are red hot right now. The team improved to 61 and 60. Should the Royals still consider trading starting pitcher, Edinson Volquez?

Edinson Volquez isn’t the sexiest name for teams to acquire even though his nickname is “Sexy Eddie”. Not many teams covet the 32-year-old starting pitcher with playoff experience at this team.

Things could change in the next week and a half. The Kansas City Royals could go on a losing streak and drop out of playoff contention all together. This might entice Dayton Moore and company to make a last-minute trade focusing on the future of the Kansas City Royals organization.

The KC Royals could stay hot and be right back in the Wild Card and possibly even the division race come this time August 31. It seems as if this option is the most likely to occur. The team is playing championship like baseball right now. Starting pitching has been a key cog in the Royals recent turnaround.

Since his blow out game on August 3, Volquez gave up six earned runs in his next two starts. He allowed four runs at home against the White Sox and two runs at Minnesota. Both games “Steady Eddie” pitched six innings.

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On the season, Volquez’s earned run average (ERA) is a bit high at 4.95 through 147 1/3 innings. In seven starts he’s allowed five for more runs. He’s also given up more eight or more runs twice this season. His season high came June 24 against the Houston Astros at home. He gave up 11 earned runs through one inning of work.

These numbers and the contract issues may have led teams to not purse Volquez before the non-waiver traded deadline on August 1.

Another factor could have been his overwhelming want to stay a Kansas City Royal. Volquez voiced his opinion about wanting to stay a Kansas City Royal multiple times before the non-waiver trade deadline.

"“I don’t know. I got to talk to Dayton (Moore). I want to,” Volquez said. “It’s hard. It’s hard to go. Because we won the World Series last year and you feel like you’re part of this city. This is your hometown now. And that’s what we want. I think every single guy here wants to be here for the rest of their career.”"

That sounds like a guy that sincerely wants to stay in Royal Blue. Unfortunately, baseball is a business and sometimes deals have to be made. A deal that could get done (unlikely) is the Miami Marlins making an offer for Edinson Volquez, according to ESPN’s, Jim Bowden.

In the article, Bowden references Volquez might not be an option for teams next season. Volquez has a $3 million dollar buyout and a $9.5 million prorated price tag next year. He said that a lower level pitching prospect might be good enough for the KC Royals to trade Volquez this season. He see’s the Miami Marlins as a team that could trade for “Steady Eddie”.

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The Miami Marlins are 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League. The team would have to jump over Pittsburgh and St. Louis to acquire the spot before the season ends.

If the Kansas City Royals fall out of contention and the Marlins are still in the Wild Card hunt, a trade could be made. However, I don’t see that happening.

I believe the Kansas City Royals team have found their championship caliber play. This team will fight until the end to be in the hunt for the playoffs. I think Dayton Moore will keep Volquez because of his veteran presence on the mound and in the clubhouse.

Interestingly enough, the Kansas City Royals take on the Miami Marlins in Miami August 23-25 this year. If Volquez wants to stay a KC Royal, defeating a team that might have interest in you would be a step in the right direction.

Next: Kansas City Royals: Top 15 Pitchers in Wins All-Time

What do you think? Should the KC Royals trade Volquez for a young guy and look to the future or should he stay for a late season playoff push? Let me know in the comment’s section below.