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Sanity is prevailing at One Royal Way, at least if the rumors are true. Despite public proclamations that the Royals won't be sellers, the team is rumored to be making pitcher Ervin Santana available on the trade market.
Robothal:
Sources: #Royals willing to listen on Ervin Santana, would move for right offer.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2013
He adds, THE GAME HAS CHANGED!
Availability of #Royals’ Santana changes market for starting pitching. 3.18 ERA in 130 1/3 innings, .641 opponents’ OPS, 104 Ks, 28 BBs.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2013
Bob Dutton agrees.
Hear same thing but price will be steep. @Ken_Rosenthal Sources: #Royals willing to listen on Ervin Santana, would move for right offer.
— Bob Dutton (@Royals_Report) July 24, 2013
Santana is an impending free agent, much like Matt Garza and has put up a 2.1 WAR this year to Garza's 1.9. If the Royals can get a similar haul to what the Cubs got for Garza, they should be all over it. However, while the Garza deal set the market for Santana, it also put one more team - and the one with the deepest pockets prospect-wise - out of the running. St. Louis, Baltimore, Cleveland, Boston, and Atlanta (after that horrific Tim Hudson injury last night WARNING THIS IS GRUESOME!) could all be potential bidders.