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After their blockbuster deal for James Shields, the Royals are in full-on "win now" mode.
As a result, they've been aggressively shopping guys like Luke Hochevar and Bruce Chen in an attempt to free up some payroll. According to a report from Troy Renck of the Denver Post, Hochevar's hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, had some interest in the underachieving young pitcher, but that was before the Royals tendered him a contract, which would guarantee him at least $4 million in arbitration.
There aren't likely to be too many teams lined up to give a 28-year old pitcher coming off a season with a 5.73 ERA that type of money.
Hochevar, a 6'5 220 right-hander selected in the first round in 2006, has never been able to put it all together at the major-league level. In six seasons in Kansas City, he has a 5.39 ERA in 771 innings pitched.
The Royals were hoping someone would take the talented but inconsistent young hurler off their hands, but they may be stuck with him for now.