Kansas City Royals: Early season trade scenarios for four players

Ian Kennedy has turned into somewhat of a commodity after essentially being demoted to the Royals bullpen during Spring Training. But instead of wallowing in the mud about it, Kennedy’s turned things around. While he hasn’t locked down the closer role, he’s shown that he is more than capable of handling late inning situations.

As for trade partners for the Royals regarding Kennedy, I looked for teams with deep pockets that are in the thick of the playoff hunt with shaky bullpens. Turns out, there are several teams that fit that mold (my initial list included six teams), so I had to arbitrarily make cuts.

The Los Angeles Dodgers should be interested in Kennedy. As of this writing, the Dodgers are first in the National League West at 27-16, four games ahead of both the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. And yet, the team’s bullpen is a weak point.

Of the team’s 16 losses, nine have come in relief, which is fourth worst in the Majors behind the Marlins, Royals, and Reds. Similarly, the Dodgers bullpen has blown eight saves so far in 2019, tied for third worst in the Majors and only better than the Padres and Athletics. The team’s 60% save rate ranks 23rd while Los Angeles relievers have allowed 41% of inherited runners to score, which is 28th.

In addition to 2019, Kennedy is also under contract for 2020 at $16.5 million, but that could very well just be the cost of doing business for the glitzy Dodgers as they look to win their first World Series title in 31 seasons.

Adding Kennedy to the team’s payroll, if the Dodgers pick up his salary, would still keep L.A. under what they paid between 2013-2017, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. And it would be worth it: among current Dodger relievers, Kennedy would rank first in ERA, ERA+ and FIP while ranking second in strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings and K/BB ratio.

In this scenario, three prospects would be going back to Kansas City. It should be worth mentioning that I also considered a couple of players on the Dodgers Major League roster, but it seems more likely that L.A. would be willing to give up prospects, however heralded, as opposed to, say, 28-year-old first baseman Max Muncy or swing pitcher Ross Stripling, 29.

Edwin Rios, 25, would be the headliner, and could immediately be brought up to Kansas City. He’s spent all of this season and last stuck in the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, blocked in the organization by the likes of Muncy at first and Justin Turner at third.

For the Royals, Rios, who slashed .304/.325/.482 with ten home runs and 25 doubles in 2018 after consecutive seasons of at least 24 home runs between Single-A and Triple-A, would be immediate competition to Ryan O’Hearn at first while capable of spelling Alex Gordon in left, where Rios has made 30 starts over three seasons.

The two pitchers would be wild cards, but high-reward ones. Gerardo Carrillo is just 20, but he’s been in the Dodgers organization for three years now. 2080 Baseball has some concerns regarding Carrillo’s slight build holding up as a starting pitcher, but that website ultimately feels like he can make it work as a number four or five starter.

Josiah Gray, another right-handed pitcher, is slightly older and better built than Carrillo, but has less experience pitching, as he originally played shortstop in college. The former second-round pick by the Reds went to the Dodgers in the same trade that involved current Royals starting pitcher Homer Bailey. MLB.com wrote about Gray:

"The athleticism that made Gray a shortstop also allows him to pound the strike zone with his fastball. If he can refine his secondary pitches and command, he could become a mid-rotation starter. If he winds up in the bullpen, he might sit in the mid-90s with his lively heater."

None of these prospects are exactly sure things, but each has potential. But this type of deal–what is really an exchange of three lottery tickets for a newly formed relief pitcher who’s dominating and has another year left on his deal — isn’t out of the question, especially if Kennedy keeps it up throughout May and June.