After finding themselves seven games out of first place just two weeks ago, the Kansas City Royals have strung together multiple wins, including a sweep against the Chicago White Sox this past weekend with all three wins coming from behind in the seventh inning or later. They now find themselves at the top of the American League Central.
The Royals are playing their best baseball of the year, despite Alex Gordon landing on the disabled list with a fractured wrist, Mike Moustakas out for the season with an ACL tear, and now Salvador Perez out with a quad contusion, which for the record could have been a lot worse. The Royals have had significant contributions from rookies as of late including Cheslor Cuthbert who is now the everyday third baseman, Whit Merrifield who is proving to be the ultimate utility man, and Brett Eibner who has the shown the plate discipline of a veteran. The Royals are flying high and look to make another run at the postseason with a strong summer. With so much youth on the active roster, it’s still uncertain if this is the combination to help lead the team to their third straight World Series.
Depth of the bullpen
The Royals bullpen over the last few seasons has been historically great. The team has built their success on putting the ball in play on offense and having a bullpen that is back loaded with multiple pitchers that could be the top reliever on any team in baseball. Players such as Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar, and Wade Davis have been the notable contributors to the pens’ stellar performances, but multiple players, both currently with the club and elsewhere, have stepped in and played their roles accordingly.
After beginning his career as a starter as the Royals first round pick, Luke Hochevar moved to the bullpen in 2013 and held a 1.92 ERA in 58 appearances before missing the 2014 season due to injury. Wade Davis had a similar start with the Royals, after being acquired in a trade from Tampa Bay and failing once again as a starter, Davis took Hochevar’s role in the bullpen in 2014 and became the dominant pitcher he is now. Davis had a 1.00 ERA in 2014 in 71 appearances, a 0.94 ERA in 2015 in 69 appearances, and currently has a 1.02 ERA this season through 18 games. Davis was 8th in the American League Cy Young voting in 2014, and 6th a year ago and took over the closer Royal when Greg Holland‘s season ended on the disabled list.
Rationale for trading Davis
Wade Davis has been a force for the Royals since his move to the bullpen, and has been someone the club could count on to come in and get the job done every single appearance. I am as big of a fan of Davis’ work as anybody, but his value could lie more in the trade market for Kansas City. With key players out, including Mike Moustakas out for the season, Alex Gordon missing time once again, and possible extended time missed for Salvador Perez, the team’s depth all of a sudden looks thinner.
Best case scenario, Cuthbert, Merrifield, and Eibner are ready to be everyday contributors and the Royals front office has to make tough decisions on who to send back down to Triple-A when players return from injury. Realistically, these players will have their ups and downs just as every rookie and every ball player has and the Royals will have another stretch this season where we question if this team has what it takes to compete in the postseason.
The Royals traded for Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist last season in order to make a deep postseason run and eventually win the World Series. Wade Davis could be the piece the team trades in order to get a veteran player in return that could make a real difference come October.
Jason Vargas will return from the DL this season and will force the Royals to move someone from the rotation to the bullpen, further strengthening it. Former Royal Greg Holland is recovering from Tommy John surgery and was the team’s closer for the past four seasons before being injured. Holland could return to become the team’s setup man and have Kelvin Herrera take over closing duties who has a 100-mph heater and currently a 0.75 ERA.
Wade Davis has been a valuable piece to the team over the past few seasons, but he is not irreplaceable. His numbers have been staggering good, but the Royals have multiple players who are a lot closer to Davis’ production than people realize. Wade Davis will never be more valuable in his career as he is right now, and with a contract that expires after this season, with a team-option for next year, the Royals could trade him away and get something in return before losing in after next season after not being able to resign him due to financial reasons.
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