MLB rumors: Royals may be willing to trade Wil Myers for pitching

The Kansas City Royals may be interested in trading top prospect Wil Myers in exchange for pitching help, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Rosenthal and Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star indicate Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields as a likely target of such a trade.

Myers, a 21-year-old outfielder, was pegged as the Royals' No. 1 prospect as recently as Dec. 3 by Baseball Prospectus. There, writer Jason Parks wrote, "The 21-year-old put all questions from the 2011 season to rest by mashing at two levels and emerging as a top-10 prospect in baseball."

That "mashing" was hitting .343 with 13 home runs in 35 games at double-A Northwest Arkansas. After getting called up to triple-A Omaha, Myers hit .304 with 24 home runs and 79 RBI in 99 games with the Storm Chasers.

If Shields is the target, the Royals would be giving up their top prospect for a pitcher who was 15-10 with an ERA of 3.52 in 2012. The 30-year-old has pitched all seven of his major league seasons with Tampa Bay, posting a career ERA of 3.89.