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The Kansas City Royals have started their search for more pitching and they've begun it in the Arizona Fall League. According to The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker, the Royals have been checking in on Seattle Mariners' pitching prospect James Paxton:
The Royals are in need of pitching, while the Mariners could use one of the bats — Alex Gordon and Billy Butler, to name two — that Kansas City seems to have a surplus of.
The Mariners would seem like good trade partners for the Royals. In addition to Paxton, they also have former first-round pick Danny Hultzen and second-round pick Taijuan Walker, which would make Paxton expendable for the right price.
Paxton was 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA in the second half of the Double-A Jackson Generals' season. So far, Paxton has 14 strike outs in 10⅔ innings with the Peoria Javelinas, which is made up of prospects from the Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies.