The Royals sit seven games back and have a better record than just two American League teams, but their target remains major league ready starting pitching, Dick Kaegel of MLB.com reported.
Kansas City attempted to fix their rotation through trade last season, acquiring Jonathan Sanchez for Melky Cabrera, but that deal turned out disastrous. Sanchez has a 6.75 ERA in 52 innings and the team owns the second-worst starter ERA in the league at 5.68.
The Royals have a young lineup with just Jeff Francoeur sticking out as a potential trade piece as opposed to a future building block. However, Francouer is owed $6.5 million in 2013 and has a brutal .251/.289/.378 line on the season. Jonathan Broxton probably is the most valuable trade piece -- the Royals have a young, talented bullpen that can fill his void and Broxton's closing experience and success this year (1.99 ERA, 21/24 saves) should have value on the trade market.