Kansas City Royals: Early season trade scenarios for four players

Last year, in trading Mike Moustakas to the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore eschewed acquiring prospects years away from joining the organization’s Major League roster. Instead, he opted for several players on that thin line that separates major leaguers from dreaded “Four-A” guys. That gives us an idea of what Moore may seek in trades this season.

In this scenario, like the one for Moustakas, in exchange for sending Ian Kennedy to the Phillies, the Royals get back two players who aren’t exactly prospects anymore, but who would be ready to bypass Omaha and report straight to Kansas City.

The Philadelphia Phillies are in a similar spot as the Dodgers: solid team overall leading its division, but the bullpen is lacking. While the Phillies’ bullpen woes aren’t as bad as the Dodgers, it need shoring up. Kennedy would become the elder statesman of not just the bullpen, but the entire Phillies staff. Plus, like with L.A., his across-the-board numbers trump those of current Philadelphia relievers.

Coming back to the Royals would first be outfielder Nick Williams, who was pushed into a bench role after the Phillies signed Bryce Harper in free agency. The 25-year-old lefty center fielder would be under club control until 2024. Ignore his limited 2019 numbers and look instead to a promising rookie season in 2017 and a stellar sophomore campaign in 2018.

Sure, improvement is needed, but at his age, that’s still certainly possible. He could turn into center fielder the Royals thought they were landing in Brett Phillips.

The second player acquired just made his Major League debut against, of all teams, the Royals. In Sunday’s outing against the Royals, southpaw Cole Irvin pitched a gem, allowing only one run on five hits and one walk while fanning five through seven innings.

Before that, the 25-year-old pitcher had pitched parts of three seasons in the minors, going 30-14 over 62 starts that saw him toss just over 394 innings. In that time, his ERA was 2.78 and his WHIP was 1.016 as he averaged 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Like Williams, Irvin is blocked due to a rather solid Phillies rotation. He should be expendable in a trade, especially one for a reliever under control through 2020 that could push Philadelphia back into the playoffs for the first time since 2011.