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The Dodgers are reportedly interested in Royals closer Wade Davis, per Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball, which makes perfect sense. What is less known is whether Kansas City would move him for a package suitable for both sides.
Davis has a 1.10 ERA and 21 saves for the Royals this season, with 31 strikeouts and 12 walks in 32⅔ innings. Since the start of 2014, Davis owns a minuscule 0.99 ERA in 174 games, with 218 strikeouts and 55 walks in 172 innings.
The strikeout rate for Davis, who turns 31 in September, has declined from 39.1 percent in 2014 to 31.1 percent last year, down to 24.4 percent in 2016.
But he's still an upper-echelon reliever, and potentially under control through 2017. Davis is making $8 million this year, with roughly $2.9 million remaining, then has a $10 million club option for next year, with a $2.5 million buyout (thanks to Cot's Contracts).
The Royals enter Wednesday at just 48-51, and in fourth place and 9½ games back in the American League Central, unlikely to return to the World Series, or the playoffs, for a third straight year. But that doesn't necessarily mean they are willing to deal Davis unless they get blown away.
The Nationals were reportedly interested in Davis, and among the package in return requested by the Royals was Lucas Giolito, which gives an idea of Kansas City's insane asking price, recounted nicely by Royals Review two days ago.
Also, this:
An example of deals the Royals are mulling: A team that asked about Wade Davis said it was told the Chapman package "wouldn't get it done"
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 25, 2016
If the Dodgers are going to aim high for a back-end reliever with an exorbitant asking price and under contract beyond 2016, Andrew Miller of the Yankees seems like the better target, with better peripherals than Davis and not on a downward trend. Miller is under contract for $9 million in each of 2017 and 2018.
We are now five days shy of Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, so expect the rumors to fly fast and furious between now and then. If forced to guess what the Dodgers might do, I would think the Dodgers will add a starting pitcher, an outfielder and a relief pitcher.