Royals Rumors: Trading Wade Davis is a Possibility

Royals rumors have already started creeping up, and the latest is that the Kansas City Royals could decide to send closer Wade Davis elsewhere.

We all remember the rough month of July for the KC Royals during the regular season. It was a month that saw the Royals win only seven games, and proved to be what ended their playoff hopes.

During that time, there were Royals rumors swirling about the team potentially trading Wade Davis. Davis hit the disabled list during these rumors, which shut down any chance of them actually happening.

Now, however, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knucklehead reported that other teams are interested in Wade Davis, and that he’s available to other teams “at the right price”.

"The Royals have built their championship teams around strong defense and a special bullpen, but they seem to be willing to consider a trade for Davis at a time they are mandated to cut their payroll from a high of $144 million."

Fans will likely have mixed feelings about these rumors and that’s to be expected. This trade idea isn’t completely crazy though.

Yes, it would suck to see Wade Davis with another team in 2017, but he could be losing value in the closer role in a few months.

Davis is in his 30s now and showed signs of slowing down during the 2016 season. He had two stints on the disabled list and had his highest ERA since becoming a reliever (still at a shiny 1.87).

Being a closer is a short life and it’s very possible that Davis may have seen his better days already.

If that’s the case and the Kansas City Royals can get something in exchange for him, then they should absolutely do it.

Kelvin Herrera was great in the closer role last season and could take over should a deal take place.

The bad side to all of this is that Wade Davis is one of a kind. He’s one of the best guys in the Royals pen, and him leaving would push Herrera into the closer role, and who else is left after that?

It’s no secret that the KC Royals have had all of their success due to a tremendous bullpen, but with Davis gone, that title might be stripped of them. Joakim Soria was AWFUL in 2016 and the only other decent reliever still with the team for sure next season is Matt Strahm, who might even get the nod as a starter.

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Obviously, a deal won’t take place unless Dayton Moore feels like it can help the club win in 2017. This is the last year of the “dream team”, so to speak, so if Moore sees a trade that can improve this team and help them win a second title in three years, I’m all for it.

Davis will definitely have trade value, according to Heyman.

"Davis, though, should have excellent value even in a market stacked with excellent closers. It’s the best closing market perhaps ever, with Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon all free agents."

While those free agent closers are going to cost big bucks, Davis could available in exchange for a nice piece or two.

Yes, it would suck to see Wade Davis with another team in 2017, but he could be losing value in the closer role in a few months. If the team can get something for him, then they need to do it.

Next: Ten Best Closers in Royals History

Davis recorded the final three outs for this team in Game 5 of the World Series and was the middle member of the famous H-D-H tandem in 2014 and the early part of 2015, but perhaps it’s time for the two sides to move on.

What do you think, Royals fans? Should the team look to trade Wade Davis and if so, what should they ask for in return?

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