http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/710137.htmlPossible Trade Bait:
David DeJesus
Except for his disappointing 2007 season, DeJesus has been a remarkably consistent big-league player. There are only two differences between his borderline All-Star performance this season and his 2004 to 2006 seasons. First, he’s hitting more home runs. Second, he’s hitting an incredible .460 with runners in scoring position.
Is this the best season DeJesus is ever going to have? That’s the core question about DeJesus. He’s going to be a big-league ballplayer for a long time to come, but his value is never going to be higher than it is right now. At the same time, the fundamental paradox about DeJesus still exists. He’s not the dynamic defensive center fielder the Royals need at Kauffman Stadium, and he’s not the kind of power bat a contending team needs at a corner outfield position.
Moving DeJesus, packaged with a pitcher (or two), is the Royals’ best chance at bringing in an impact young talent.
Mark Grudzielanek
Grudzielanek is still an ever-so-slightly-above-average offensive performer for his position. His performance has remained steady well past the age when most middle infielders falter. But at 38, Grudzielanek is about as out of place on a noncontending team as Johnny Rotten at a quilting bee.
What market is there for Grudzielanek, who is in the final season of his contract? Probably not much. Among contenders, the Yankees have gotten a dismal season from Robinson Cano but certainly aren’t likely to give up on him. The Brewers may be ready to upgrade from the disappointing Rickie Weeks.
Nevertheless, anything you can get for Grudzielanek would be better than what you’ll have after his contract expires: nothing.
Gil Meche
I get the feeling that the Royals are invested in Meche and not just in terms of dollars. His contract, which seemed outlandish when it was signed, doesn’t seem too bad considering the current going rate for starting pitchers. Meche is a solid league-average or above pitcher but is not an ace. As such, if you could move him in a DeJesus package for a true impact prospect, you’d have to do it. Besides the talent influx, you’d be freeing up a lot of dollars to boot.
Ron Mahay
Mahay’s been terrific, no doubt about that. Middle relievers are the most fungible of assets and, generally speaking, you can get more for them from a desperate contender at the in-season deadline than you can over the winter. He’s another asset that could be part of an attractive trade package.
Zack Greinke
What?! Nooo … we don’t want to really trade Greinke, do we? Certainly not — he’s emerged as one of the league’s best starters, and his prime seasons are still ahead of him. Here’s the question that only Moore can answer: Is there any hope of locking Greinke into a long-term contract? If the answer is a clear and emphatic no, then the time to start offering him is now. You don’t have to do it now, but it pays to be proactive in these matters.
