The defending World Champion Kansas City Royals are in trouble, sitting at 49-51 heading into Thursday’s action, 8.5 games back of the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians and 6.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. So it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the Royals are considering selling at the trade deadline, and one of the players receiving interest is closer Wade Davis. But the Royals aren’t content just moving Davis – they’re also reportedly trying to attach Ian Kennedy and his contract to Davis in a potential trade.
Kennedy is still owed an unsightly $65.2 million over the next four-plus years of his contract, though he can opt out after next season. However, opting out seems unlikely, given that the 31-year old has a 4.41 ERA over 114 1/3 innings this season while allowing a league-high 26 home runs.
The 30-year old Davis still has plenty of trade, despite a relatively disappointing 2016 campaign. Through 33 2/3 innings, Davis has a 1.60 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 15 walks. Last season, Davis allowed just seven earned runs all year (compared to six already this year) while walking 20 men in 67 1/3 innings.
That being said, he still has value and isn’t just a rental – Davis is owed roughly $3 million over the rest of this season, and has a club option for 2017 at an affordable $10 million.
When eating significant money is involved, the Los Angeles Dodgers are always a possibility, but it doesn’t appear they’re keen on taking on Kennedy’s contract in order to add the coveted Davis to their bullpen.
Forcing a team that wants Davis to also take Kennedy is a strange strategy from Kansas City, especially given that their price for Davis alone is reportedly quite high – they reportedly demanded Lucas Giolito from the Nationals earlier this week, a laughable request. If that’s the type of player they wanted to move Davis for, why would they drive that potential return down by wanting to include Kennedy’s contract in a trade?
The hot stove is most definitely lit, and it’s not too often you see the reigning champions go into the trade deadline as sellers. But this hasn’t been a normal year, and the Royals aren’t an organization that can hand wave financial mistakes away like the Red Sox, Yankees, or the aforementioned Dodgers.