MLB Trade Speculation: Why the Kansas City Royals Should Trade Melky Cabrera Now

With the July 31st trade deadline approaching, many MLB teams are scrambling to look for possible trades to unload or acquire certain players.

The Kansas City Royals have usually been sellers at the deadline, and this year will be no different.

Many names come to mind that KC could possibly get rid of next month, including center fielder Melky Cabrera.

Cabrera came to Kansas City as a free agent this past offseason, after batting just .255 in 147 games with the Atlanta Braves in '10.

KC was able to get him for a cheap deal, and they have reaped the benefits through the first three months of the 2011 season.

Melky is hitting .277 with nine homers and 43 RBI, while showing some speed with 10 stolen bases for the year.

Many thought that when Royals GM Dayton Moore signed Cabrera in the offseason there was a good chance he would be used for trade bait if he got off to a good start to the season.

Right now, Kansas City has a prospect by the name of Lorenzo Cain who is knocking on the door for a big league call-up, and the only thing that is blocking him is Cabrera.

Cain is hitting .299 with 32 extra-base hits and 42 RBI in his 70 games with Triple-A Omaha this season.

This is more than a good enough line to deserve a promotion to the major league team.

Now it's time for the Royals to make it happen and unload Cabrera while he is still worth something this year.