The Kansas City Royals have scouted recent starts of Blue Jays starting pitcher Carlos Villanueva, according to the Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott.

The right-handed Villanueva will be a free agent at the end of the season.

He is 7-5 in 36 appearances (14 starts) with a 3.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 115 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings.

Villanueva has made 299 appearances in seven years with the Brewers and Blue Jays, but only 54 have been starts. He's 33-33 with a 4.12 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in his career.

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