Adam Holt | June 21, 2017

The big question for the Royals even before the season began was what they were going to do at the trade deadline. This year the trade deadline is July 31 and is the time of year where teams in contention of the playoffs will go trade for players to make their teams better, and teams out of the playoffs will trade away key players to build up their farm systems to help rebuild in the following years.
This year was a crucial year as far as the trade deadline goes for the Royals because many of the core pieces that helped lead the Royals to World Series in 2014 and 2015 are up for free agency in 2018. First baseman Eric Hosmer, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitcher Jason Vargas are all free agents and could be traded at the trade deadline.