Royals fortify rotation by acquiring Johnny Cueto

In position to win their first division title in 30 years, the Kansas City Royals on Sunday acquired right-hander Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds, sources confirmed, five days before the trading deadline and four days after learning starter Jason Vargas likely would require elbow surgery.

Nearing free agency, Cueto was 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA for the sagging Reds and will upgrade a Royals rotation rendered mediocre by injuries and underperformance. Cueto threw eight shutout innings Saturday in Colorado after learning he may already have been traded to the Royals, a deal that reportedly was redrawn when a player going back to the Reds failed a physical. Fox Sports was the first to report the Reds and Royals had a deal.
The Reds’ return on Cueto was unknown as of Sunday morning, and neither team would confirm the trade had been made.
The Royals have perhaps the best bullpen in the game. Their starters, however, carry a 4.30 ERA – 11th in the American League – and are last in the league in innings pitched. Their rotation was among the best in the league last season, which ended in Game 7 of the World Series. Ace James Shields left for San Diego, however, and those who remained – Yordano Ventura in particular – regressed. The Royals’ best starter to date has been Edinson Volquez, Cueto’s teammate in Cincinnati for four years.
Still, the Royals have the best record in the AL through 96 games and hold a 6 ½-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the Central.
The deal for Cueto is a bold move for the organization, which lacks the financial might to compete for Cueto in free agency. He’s likely to be a two – or three – month rental, an extravagance that is new for the Royals but fitting for a team that could have been vulnerable in the postseason.
In Cueto they acquired what likely will be their Game 1 starter in the playoffs. And they moved quickly in a trade market deep in starting pitching. Still out there and available are Cole Hamels, Jeff Samardzija and perhaps David Price and Shields, along with the likes of Mat Latos, Yovani Gallardo, Mike Leake, Ian Kennedy and Andrew Cashner.
The Reds, conversely, might be just getting started. In an effort to start over with a team that has underachieved again, general manager Walt Jocketty could move closer Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Jay Bruce, along with Leake.More info