Ben Zobrist
Last week, I pleaded with the Royals to sign a starting pitcher. This was before Jason Vargas blew up his elbow (though that wasn’t exactly shocking, given his previous injuries this season) and before OPENING DAY STARTER Yordano Ventura had yet another shitty start, was demoted and than subsequently UN-demoted due to happenstance.
One person I mentioned—Scott Kazmir—was traded from his previous team (Oakland) to a now super-stacked Houston Astros. So, cool. All it took Houston was their organization’s 19th and 22nd best prospects, so it’s a bit disappointing the Royals couldn’t have done even a little better.
But I digress. They didn’t get Kazmir. Life will go on, probably.
They still need a bat, and that’s for sure. Alex Gordon remains on the disabled list, the outfield aside from Lorenzo Cain is inconsistent at best, and the less said about the second baseman, the less his madre will cry.
So anyway, here are some players the Royals could target to bolster their occasionally inconsistent lineup.
Ben Zobrist,: Multi-Instrumentalist, Oakland A’s (.254, 5 HR, 32 RBI, .344 OBP, .759 OPS)
Desirability: Through the roof.
Attainability: Should be reasonable
Zobrist isn’t having the best year of his career by a good margin, and that’s okay. In fact, it SHOULD mean good negotiating leverage for KC. BUT: Zobrist can play the outfield AND the infield—SS and 2B, specifically—so he makes SO MUCH SENSE for the Royals. He can fill in until Gordon gets back, then split time between second and right field. (Or he can just play second all the damn time.) Zobrist actually HAS power (though this season it is absent, but whatever) and he gets on base at a really un-KC like clip. Ben Zobrist makes so much sense for Kansas City that I know it won’t happen.
Jay Bruce: Rightfielder, Cincinnati Reds (.251, 15 HR, 49 RBI, .338 OBP, .808 OPS)
Desirability: Hell yeah
Attainability: Eh, maybe?
The best bet at landing Bruce is through some package involving Reds’ ace Johnny Cueto. And as someone with no actual irons in the fire, I say FUCKING DO IT. Bruce would be the best RF the Royals have had in years, AND he’s under 30, AND you’d have him for at least another year. Yeah, his defense can lack at times, but with JOHNNY CUETO ON THE MOUND, who gives a shit about defense?? Viva la Jay!
Yoenis Cespedes: Leftfielder, Detroit Tigers (.291, 14 HR, 54 RBI, .322 OBP, .810 OPS)
Desirability: Sure, why not?
Attainability: Hmmmm…
When Cespedes first ascended to these shores from Cuba, I desperately wanted the Royals to land him. Then Oakland worked some Billy Beane magic, and alas. But to be honest, he’s only been slightly above average in his big league career—until this season. Now, Cespedes seems like a man possessed. Possessed to leave his loser team and join a winner? Perhaps. But dealing inter-divisionally is never easy. The Royals would really have to blow the Tigers away with an offer, and I’m not sure he’s worth that.
Justin Upton: Outfielder, San Diego Padres (.251, 15 HR, 49 RBI, .330 OBP, .755 OPS)
Desirability: I just orgasm in pant
Attainability: LOL
The Great San Diego Padres Experiment of 2015 is basically over. They suck, so they’re all up for sale. (I don’t want James Shields back, though, because he sucks in the postseason, there, I said it.) Upton has always been a surprise non-bust to me. Meaning—he was SUPPOSED to be the next _______ after being the first pick of the 2005 draft, but he never became _______. But, similar to our own Alex Gordon, he has slowly evolved into one of the best outfielders in the game. Justin Upton could easily be the best rightfielder the Royals have ever had, hence the LOL. (I don’t think Dayton will do what it takes to land him.)
Anyway, in short, KC has one week to sign Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto.
Go Royals!
Is it just me, or was this article written a day or two ago? Either Lefty didn’t turn on a TV yesterday, or KCC is such a large operation they couldn’t give him 5 minutes to update the column. We can’t make a package deal for Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto on July 27, 2015 because on July 26, 2015 we acquired Johnny Cueto.
I wouldn’t normally point out these type of editorial oversights, except in this case it is kind of a big deal (Jay Bruce section aside). What we gave up for Cueto could sway some people to say we don’t need to spend anymore capital (human or $) this year.
“We can’t make a package deal for Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto on July 27, 2015 because on July 26, 2015 we acquired Johnny Cueto.”
No, I want them to go back and do the trade again.
But seriously, sorry about that– yeah, this was written on Friday. It does seem unlikely that they will now land Jay Bruce. And that’s fine. Just because they ended up getting Cueto, though, doesn’t mean they couldn’t use another bat. At all.
I didn’t love the Cueto trade, because I really like Lamb. But I don’t think it was a bad deal. I would just be concerned about giving away too much for a hitter. It would really send the signal that we are all in this year.
I would almost like to see them bring up Bubba just to see what he is. At worst he is a trading piece. I had heard that he was the player that was to be traded in the Cueto deal but because of a health reason the Reds backed out. But I heard the health reason wasn’t his knee injury, but there is something up with his vision. This is all just rumor, but what I have heard around Royals Nation.
Oh, I think Cincinnati got a good haul, overall. All three could be decent pitchers. But Cueto is a huge addition, the best starter KC has had in a million years. (I loved Shields, but he ain’t Cueto.) Provided he stays healthy, I think both teams “won” this trade.
And Starling is much too far away to help them right now. Interesting note about the vision thing, though… I hadn’t heard that. I do remember that he had Lasik over two years ago.
dude…cueto is free soon…we maybe get him for 3 months…
don’t get too excited.
WHAT?! SAY IT AIN’T SO, HARLEY. I thought we had him for several more seasons! Well, then I take back EVERYTHING I said! Man, oh man. I’m so embarrassed.
listen to “the man”…
never doubt HARLEY!
he’s right again and again.
nice we have cueto for 3 months…enjoy his
days in blue…because its gonna cost big
to keep him on kc.
Anyway, I think they’ll go hard for Zobrist. They’ve also apparently talked with the Marlins about Martin Prado, but I feel like Moore has been interested in Zobrist for a few years now.
Off topic, but since I was criticizing you for messing up an article in a town where EVERYTHING Royals is on fire, I should give you a compliment too. The radio wars have always been one of my favorite parts of KCC. Are the radio rankings a monthly thing? Are we due for a post about 610?
come on hearne….publish my comments…
youre a dollar short and 2 days late……
as for what? don’t count on valid info from hearne on ratings or old radio
guys…
I have brought in the expert programmer to do a complete look at
the ratings in the kc market. It’s about time we had someone who knows
the real facts not the fantasy that hearne and radio dude try to pass
off as correct info.
I will post it bt since it will contradict radio dude and his master hearne
they may not publish it.
come on hearne…if you can’t take the heat…go work for glaze making
dr. pepper chicken (which by the way was very good and I highly
recommend it at stanfords.)
lefty… so, zobrist DID happen. if you had said it would, it probably wouldn’t have. good job! you psyched out baseball trade gods!
Haha. I’m super excited about landing him– not so excited that it took Manaea, though. I think he’s going to end up being the best piece the Royals lost in either deal they made.
we gave up some good prospects in both trades. but… remember… PROSPECTS. never know how they’ll turn out. i think the royals did exactly what they needed to to shore up weak areas and got the right guys in doing so. gonna be fun….