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Could the Kansas City Royals actually be buyers at the deadline?

By Cody Rickman

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 16: The Kansas City Royals players speak to the umpires after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 16, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 4-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 16: The Kansas City Royals players speak to the umpires after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 16, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 4-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Kevin Pillar #5 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Kevin Pillar #5 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Who should the Kansas City Royals pursue on the trade market?

Kevin Pillar, Outfielder (Boston Red Sox)

The Red Sox are floundering in the AL East and should be sellers at the trade deadline. Outfielder Kevin Pillar who was signed by the Red Sox this offseason to a one-year contract, has been outstanding this season. Pillar has hit .313/.352/.507 with 8 extra-base hits while providing outstanding defense.

Pillar would be an upgrade for the Royals in the outfield and would allow the Royals to rotate Whit Merrifield primarily in left field, right field, and at second base. Alex Gordon‘s inability to get started offensively has created problems for the Royals lineup.

A deal for Pillar may not be expensive in regards to prospect cost, a young pitching prospect in low-A may be enough to do the trick for a month’s worth of Kevin Pillar.

Richard Rodriguez, Reliever (Pittsburgh Pirates) or Trevor Gott, Reliever (San Francisco Giants)

Richard Rodríguez has been outstanding out of the bullpen for the dreadful Pittsburgh Pirates. Rodríguez has make 8 relief appearance to the tune of a 3.12 ERA, 0.577 WHIP, 2.91 FIP, with 12 Ks vs 1 BB in 8.2 innings.

Trevor Gott was pitching masterfully for the Giants in the closer role until his two most recent appearances against the Oakland Athletics where he allowed 9 earned runs and 4 homeruns in only 1 inning of work split between two relief appearances. Prior to this debacle, Gott had worked 6 innings with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP accumulating 4 saves, 1 hold, and 1 win in the process.

Rodríguez and Gott would be significant upgrades in the bullpen over Kevin McCarthy and Jake Newberry. Both relievers have experience handling high leverage situations.

Each pitcher has three years of arbitration control remaining. The Royals would likely have to deal away a prospect in the bottom 21-30 range from team’s top 30 to obtain each reliever.

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