Blockbusters up and down and the Royals stuck in the middle holding on to Melky, Frenchy, Francis and Chen. Apparently, the Cleveland Indians listened to the Powder Blue Room, but the Royals barely made a squeak in the trade market. The Royals essentially dumped two players taking up space on their bench for players who aren't contractually required to take-up space on the bench. So what happened to Dayton and his patented trade deadline specials? I think he got a little too big for his britches. Given that there was absolutely no need to trade anyone for payroll reasons, I think Dayton tried to play hardball and got what he should have expected. Now we have to wait and see if it was a case overvaluing players or rightfully balking at the paltry returns offered for the likes of Melky and Frenchy. The hardest part is that we really don't know, while MLB Trade Rumors does a fantastic job of making us think we know. In the end we have no idea of what, who, when and if any offers came for the Royals' players, still that doesn't stop us from pretending we know more than our GM...
Melky
Dayton's Price: I want a high upside MLB ready starting pitcher.
The Rest of the League's Response: Yes Dayton, everyone would love to turn a million dollar gamble and half a season from a slightly above average CF into a starting pitcher, but what you really get is Vin Mazarro or someone who throws 100 MPH, but has more walks than strike-outs pitching down in AA.
The Reality: Dayton probably played this one well, there was just simply no reason give away Melky for anything less than real talent. He's cheap, under team control and if he continues to play like this will be worth as much during the offseason or at next year's trade deadline. Also, I'm guessing that no one in the league really bought the whole "Melky finally figured it out" storyline and decided the better options of Beltran, Pence, Bourn, Upton, Rasmus et al, were more worth the prospect price tag. It actually was a pretty loaded outfield market and Melky was about 7th best on that list, so let him continue to build value for a future trade or maybe he helps you make a playoff run next year? No harm done having Melky around for a while longer.
Frenchy
Dayton's Price tag: See Melky Cabrera and double it.
The Rest of the League's Response: Very funny Dayton, do you realize that I'm going to use him only as a platoon outfielder to hit against soft-tossing lefties. No really Dayton, he's not an everyday player. Dayton everyone in the league passed on him except for you. Are you serious, our #1 pitching prospect for him, this conversation is over.
The Reality: Any other GM in baseball in the Royals situation would have traded Frenchy for a AA lefty bullpen arm, moved Melky to RF and immediately called up Lorenzo Cain. But this is the love affair that is Dayton Moore & Jeff Francouer. I'm willing to admit that he has played pretty well this year, much better than anyone expected, and I love watching him throw people out at the plate, but the thought of negotiating a 2+ year deal with him at the end of the year is just scary. Or even worse, the thought of watching him hit .180 in September while Cain rides the bench or stays in AAA and then execising his mutual option. The only way I like this is if you're a really cunning GM who wants to preserve Cain's value and include him in a big blockbuster deal this offseason for a starting pitcher because you know the Frenchy/Melky combo is more reliable and only costs a few mil. But I don't see that coming from Dayton and Frenchy has created an unnecessary bottleneck and if he continues to play well will simply be too expensive at the end of the year, but if he plays poorly will also be too expensive. I just don't see how the Royals come out on top with this situation.
Jeff Francis
Dayton's Price: A toolsy 2B in AA plus another bullpen arm.
The Rest of the League's Response: Again, Dayton we like the signing, we all give you props for getting Francis this offseason on the cheap, but what exactly is your leverage here? If we don't give you our best young infield prospect, you'll keep him and maybe not loose 100 games? Take our 7th best outfield prospect in low A ball and move on with life.
The Reality: There might never have been a real Jeff Francis Market. I'd like to believe that if you can trade Jason Marquis and Doug F-ing Fister for something then Francis is worth a prospect, but other teams also might not have been buying the "Jeff Francis difference maker" storyline. The truth is that the chances of Jeff Francis being more help than your best AAA pitcher are very slim. The problem here is the same as Jeff Francouer; if he pitches well you might win a few more games in September, but he'll cost too much to re-sign and if sucks it up or gets hurt, you could have gotten the same from Mazarro or O'Sullivan and had the prospect and a few 100K to boot. I think what happened is that Francis' last good start came too late, he needed two or three really good starts right before the deadline in order to sucker any team into giving up a prospect, but that didn't happen and there never was much on the table for Francis.
Bruce Chen
Dayton's Price: Same as Francis plus some icing.
The Rest of the League's Response: Dayton did you see his last start vs. Boston 4 IP, 10 ER, nuff said. Brian Cashman continually forwarded the box score to Dayton via text message until he stopped calling.
The Reality: Contrary to the Jeff Francis situation, Chen's implosion in Boston came just in time for any potential suitors to see this and pull all offers off the table and move on to the next veteran lefty. His 3.3 ERA looked great and then came the Boston game, after which his 4.3 ERA didn't look so good. You can never be sure, but if I were about to take a prospect gamble on Bruce Chen and then saw that game, I would immediately delete Dayton from my speed dial. Dayton probably didn't adjust his price on Chen post Boston Massacre and surprisingly (only so to Dayton) no teams called on Chen's availability.
The best thing to come from this trade deadline is that Mike Aviles found a good home and no longer has to watch Chris Getz hit four infield/bunt singles per week while he and Mitch play five-card-draw waiting to pinch run for Billy Butler in the 9th. Other than that, nothing happened. It may play out to be a shrewed move when Dayton trades Lorenzo Cain back to Milwaukee for Zack Greinke and Melky and Frenchy get even better next year. But it could also turn out to be a complete waste of time as Frenchy signs with Philly in the offseason for more money, or Melky decides to go back to eating roasted chickens two at a time, Chen and Francis move on and the books are closed on those players. We'll just have to wait and see.
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