Report: Royals wanted Nationals' Giolito for Wade Davis

If the Washington Nationals want Wade Davis to join their bullpen, the Kansas City Royals are going to make them pay big.

In an internal conversation, the Royals reportedly discussed targeting top prospect Lucas Giolito in exchange for the two-time All-Star closer, sources told Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

Giolito, arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball, would be a very steep price to pay for a closer. The market for back-end bullpen help appears to be skyrocketing ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, though, as evidenced by the New York Yankees' reported four-player haul for Aroldis Chapman that included the Chicago Cubs' top prospect.

It's highly unlikely the Nationals would part with their former first-round pick, who made his big-league debut this year and owns a 4.91 ERA in three starts, for Davis. The Royals also may not be committed to selling just yet, as they're only six games out of a wild-card spot despite injuries and slumping play.

The Nationals have been looking hard at bullpen upgrades and eyeing Davis as an upgrade over Jonathan Papelbon. They've been linked to Yankees left-hander Andrew Miller, as well as Chapman prior to Monday's trade.

Davis owns a 1.10 ERA and has saved 21 games for Kansas City this season. He didn't allow a run in eight postseason appearances for the World Series champions last October.