It's no secret the Kansas City Royals are looking for starting pitching and yet the only viable trade chips the team holds are in the form of prospects from their much-heralded farm system. That said, if the Royals hope to land a solid starter, it's going to cost them a promising youngster or two.
Lorenzo Cain leads most lists of available Royals prospects and that's simply because he's stuck behind a solid trio of outfielders already. Stan McNeal of The Sporting News believes Cain could be one of the top outfielders available this offseason for a team looking for some help in return for pitching.
"They are looking for starting pitching and Cain, acquired last year in the Zack Greinke deal, would make a nice trade chip," says McNeal. "He is a 25-year-old fleet center fielder who hit .306 in 147 at-bats with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010. Cain spent most of this past season at Class AAA in large part because Melky Cabrera played surprisingly well in center for Kansas City. Spending another year in the minors would not be in the best interests of Cain or the Royals"
The Royals are going to stick with Cabrera, it seems, for another year, meaning Cain should definitely be flipped for something useful in the rotation. Hopefully the Royals can come away with a couple of starters this offseason to help turn around their starting pitching woes.