With Ben Zobrist trade, Royals solidify themselves as a World Series team
Many people didn’t believe. They didn’t believe that the Kansas City Royals, who were one win from a World Series title last year, could do it again. They didn’t believe the team was built to withstand the tough AL Central. They didn’t believe that last year’s Cinderella could be this year’s belle of the ball.
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But the Royals believe. They believe this is their year and they proved it again Tuesday by adding Ben Zobrist from the Oakland Athletics, another move signaling that the Royals are all-in for 2015.
The A’s are getting two pitching prospects in return. Here’s the deal, as reported by Yahoo Sports’ own Jeff Passan:
With Zobrist joining new ace Johnny Cueto in the Royals clubhouse, it’s hard not to believe now. And it’s hard, frankly, to see these Royals as anything other than a legit World Series team.
Kansas City (60-38) was the best team in the American League in the first half and with its win Monday night, it was the first team in the AL to 60 wins. The Royals have an eight-game lead in the AL Central, a division they appear to have a good hold on unless a catastrophe strikes.
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This isn’t about the division. This is about what they didn’t finish last year. The two needs the Royals had coming into trade-deadline week were at second base and atop their rotation. Zobrist, a play-anywhere utility man, can slide into the starting second-base job immediately and be an upgrade over Omar Infante, the weak link in Kansas City’s lineup. He can also help in the outfield if needed, where the Royals are without injured All-Star Alex Gordon, who should return in early September. He can play short or third if need be and generally give the Royals a boost where ever they might need it.
Cueto, meanwhile, has already given the Royals an ace presence at the top of their starting rotation, better even than James Shields, who was their de facto No. 1 starter last year even though he really more of a No. 2. The Royals are fifth in MLB in team ERA, with a big assist from their fantastic bullpen. Their starting pitchers have the 21st best ERA in the league, but Cueto should help a lot.
Like Cueto, Zobrist is a free agent after this season, which means these are without question win-now moves by the Royals, a team that recognizes its window is wide open, right in front of them.
It’s one thing to be the underdog that nobody thinks has a chance, as the Royals were last season. It’s another entirely to be the first-place team making splashy moves at the trade deadline. Expectations are higher and there’s much more room for disappointment.
But it’s clear that the Royals, by adding Zobrist to go along with Cueto, have an unwavering belief that this is their year.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
