Report: Royals have offered Ventura in trade talks
The Kansas City Royals have reportedly grown weary of Yordano Ventura.
On Wednesday morning, only a few hours after the combative right-hander triggered a brawl at Camden Yards by hitting Manny Machado with a 99-mph fastball, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported that executives from two teams said the Royals have offered Ventura in trade talks within the past month.
Once considered a major part of the Royals' future, Ventura continues to cause headaches for those in Kansas City's clubhouse and front office - last year, the 25-year-old incited bench-clearing incidents in three consecutive starts - and even manager Ned Yost admitted after Tuesday's melee that his teammates are "probably" frustrated by his antics.
Related: Adam Jones: Ventura has a 'circuit board off balance'
Though the Royals have stood by Ventura in the past, given the increasing gulf between his stuff and effectiveness - he throws 99 mph, but owns a 5.32 ERA (81 ERA+) with a 14.7 percent strikeout rate in 12 starts this year - the reigning World Series champions are curious to see if other teams are interested in their hard-throwing Dominican.
Ventura, who insisted the pitch that hit Machado merely "got away" from him, will make only $21.25 million over the next three seasons, and with a pair of $12-million team options potentially keeping him under team control through 2021, rival clubs may be willing to take a chance on him, even if they envision him in a relief role.
Ventura, times facing opponent in a game
Split | OPS | ISO | K% |
---|---|---|---|
1st PA | .669 | .110 | 20.4% |
2nd PA | .668 | .128 | 21.1% |
3rd PA | .774 | .159 | 19% |