Trade history unkind to Royals
Some fans are tossing around the names of some of their best Royals’ players as possible trade bait as the trading deadline nears Thursday. Notably, we hear David DeJesus, Zack Greinke, Jose Guillen and Gil Meche mentioned.
For what it’s worth, recent history has not treated the Royals well when it comes to dealing their best talent.
Four years ago, they dealt pending free agent Carlos Beltran to Houston in a three-team deal that also involved Oakland. The Royals ended up with Mike Wood, Mark Teahen and John Buck. Wood is gone and Teahen and Buck amount to mediocre return at best for Beltran.
In June 2001, the Royals traded Jermaine Dye for Neifi Perez, who spent an anemic two years here. In January that year, the Royals shipped Johnny Damon to Oakland for Roberto Hernandez, shortstop Angel Berroa and catcher A.J. Hinch. Hernandez was a decent closer for two years but that wasn’t much for budding star Damon. Berroa fizzled after one good year.
These three deals have been second-guessed plenty on our sports pages over the years and they all came under former General Manager Allard Baird. Maybe Dayton Moore and his scouts would mine some better long-term talent than Baird did.
Personally, I wouldn’t trade DeJesus, who is coming into his own and has a very favorable contract. Greinke’s trade value should be high but has probably dropped a rung with his recent struggles. I wouldn’t deal him, either.
Guillen is also slumping. But if the Royals can get a young power hitter, even a year or two away, from a team that needs to win now, I would part with the moody Guillen and free up his salary for off-season signings. Meche is a tough call. He has pitched well in recent weeks and could be a dependable No. 3 starter for years to come. Still, I think the Royals should be looking at offers.
That’s my take as general manager at the keyboard. I’m sure the Royals will follow my script.
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If you went to the game Thursday night, are female and wanted a pink and white baseball hat, you should have succeeded. The first 20,000 women and girls were eligible for a hat. Men were being refused a hat, even to bring home to a female. But the Royals must have a lot left over as the attendance was 25,900. Last year, the Royals gave out 10,000 pink hats and ran out long before game time.
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Jessi Moody said yes to Brandon Fogal on the giant video board Thursday night when he popped the marriage question. Moody, 20, said it was her first Royals’ game and she had no idea Fogal, 23, had a proposal in mind when he took her to Kauffman. They have been dating for about two years. She said she thought the public setting was romantic.
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