Kansas City Royals: 5 Pitchers KC Should Trade For

For as long as the Kansas City Royals have been a franchise, they haven't exactly been known to throw money around during free agency or make high profile trades around the deadline.

What the Royals have always done is make deals that don't get headlines unless they're trading a fan favorite (how's Milwaukee Zack Greinke?) and usually end up involving some young prospects. 

Considering KC's long history of not putting too much money into their roster, here are five, cost efficient moves that could help fix the mess that is their current rotation.

5. Mike Pelfrey

Acquiring Mike Pelfrey from the financially struggling New York Mets might not win over many of the Kansas City faithful, but even with all the baggage that comes with "Big Pelf," the guy has posted three straight, double-digit wins coming into 2011.

Pelfrey's ERA will never be the prettiest on a team, but his current 4.78 line would be right in line with the current Royals staff. The current Mets "ace" is prone to streaks, with some of the cold streaks lasting what feels like half the season.

His bad stretches are tough to swallow, but his hot streaks are the reason the Metropolitans haven't given up on this guy just yet. Unfortunately, due to New York's financial woes there's a strong chance they won't be able to re-sign Pelfrey after his contract expires at the end of the current MLB season.

Inserting Pelfrey into the Royals rotation provides a name for the fans to cheer but also a pitcher whose best days might still be on the horizon. For some guys, all it takes is a change of scenery.

4. Wade Davis

Wade Davis is a name that might be a little harder for the Royals to get a hold of, seeing as how his contract is through 2014 with Tampa Bay.

Davis also struggles posting a respectable ERA, posting just above four last season and 4.32 this season. He doesn't strike out a whole lot of batters, he doesn't have the hype of a Jeremy Hellickson but what Wade Davis does have is wins.

Despite the Rays being on a downward turn the past few seasons, Davis found a way to post 10 wins last season and currently has seven to his name in 2011.

He probably wouldn't step into Kansas City and become the ace, but he's a young hurler who's making strides and the Royals love to load up on young talent.

It would take a trade with Tampa involving some of the Royals current batters or farm prospects offensively, but as long as the price is right, they'd be wise to acquire Davis.

3. Erik Bedard

Since leaving the Baltimore Orioles and heading to the pacific northwest in 2008, Erik Bedard has been plagued by the infamous injury bug and has struggled to start more than 15 games since becoming a Seattle Mariner.

Before being put on the disabled list on the 29th with a sprained knee, Bedard was on a roll. Through 15 games, the former Oriole posted a 3.00 ERA with 85 strikeouts and six wins to his name.

Bedard is just one of those guys that always seems to get hurt, but if he can post numbers similar to what he has already for the rest of the season, there's reason to invest in the Canadian lefty.

The Mariners might not try too hard to get Bedard back considering his injuries over his time with the organization, and the Royals could pick him up for cheap.

Again, because of his limited playing time, he can't ask too much, and he'd be a great fit for Kansas City.

2. Ryan Vogelsong

Continuing the trend of pitchers suddenly reviving their careers, San Fransisco Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong is looking like this season's Colby Lewis but with better numbers.

Since obtaining a rotation spot after the injury to Barry Zito, Vogelsong has looked to make the most of his outings. Through 14 games, Vogelsong carries an outstanding 2.09 ERA and six wins to just one loss in the decisions column.

The Giants have a tough decision ahead of them, considering once Jonathan Sanchez comes back they need to decide who gets the last rotation spot: Zito or Vogelsong? Or they could do what Kansas City is now and have a six-man rotation.

The former Pittsburgh Pirate would certainly be the cheaper of the two pitchers to obtain, and with Vogelsong in the Royals rotation, the offense could rest easy scoring just two or three runs with him on the mound.

1. Barry Zito

That being said about Vogelsong's performance though, I think he'd be the easier to obtain, Zito would be the signing that management could sell to the fan base and has the highest pay-off rate.

Say what you want about his 2010 season, but the fact is last year was the first season Zito had finished without double-digit wins in seven seasons. This guy knows how to win games for his team, and he does it by striking out his opposition early and often.

His ERA hasn't been as great as it used to be during his early Giant years and his days with Oakland, but the current Royals rotation only has one pitcher with an ERA below four.

Worst case scenario is that Zito produces the same amount of runs earned as the current staff, but posts more W's and would instantly become the team's greatest strike out threat.

If the Giants choose to play hardball about their Sin City hurler, than this could turn out to be a deal the Royals would be hard pressed to complete financially, but it would have arguably the biggest payoff out of all the listed acquisitions in this article.

Zito is currently under contract through 2013 with $126 million left on his deal. He would be by far the hardest pitcher to get on this list, but he'd be the most high profile and most ideal to obtain before Opening Day of the 2012 season arrives.