The Royals have dealt 30-year old righty swinging infielder Mike Aviles to the Red Sox for 23-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Yamaico Navarro and 23-year old reliever/starter Kendal Volz. Navarro came into this season as the Red Sox’ #12 prospect according to Baseball America. Navarro played in 16 games for the Red Sox this year and he was 8 for 37 (.216 avg, .626 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. He has also played in 34 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 33 for 128 (.258 avg, .831 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 5 homers, 13 RBIs and 3 stolen bases there. Navarro has now played in 36 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 14 for 79 (.177 avg, .461 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer and 8 RBIs. Kendal Volz has pitched in 31 games (0 starts) in A-ball this year and he is 2-3 with 2 saves, a 3.33 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Volz has now pitched in 57 games (24 starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 8-8 with 2 saves, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has only walked 26 batters while whiffing 150 in his first 167 1/3 innings in the minors, so he knows how to pitch.

Mike Aviles played in 53 games for the Royals this year and he was 41 for 185 (.222 avg, .656 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 5 homers, 31 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Aviles played in 301 games in his four years with the Royals and he was 328 for 1,148 (.286 avg, .734 OPS) with 155 runs scored, 24 homers, 122 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.

This was another solid deal with the Royals dealing a spare part (Aviles) for a couple of decent prospects (Navarro and Volz). Hopefully Royals’ GM Drayton Moore can keep up the good work the rest of this weekend.

The Royals have assets to deal this week but they are going to want young players back who are major league ready. Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur, Mike Aviles, Bruce Chen and Jeff Francis are going to be talked about a lot this week. Matt Treanor and Kila Ka’aihue are two other players who could be on the move this week. The Royals could decide to package players to maximize the return they can get in deals. For instance, the Pirates or Giants could use a shortstop and a catcher. The Royals would get more for Mike Aviles and Matt Treanor if they packaged them than they would get for one of them on individual deals. That being said, Mike Aviles has a lot of possible suitors other than the Giants and Pirates. Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francoeur are also hot commodities with the Rays, Indians, Rangers, Phillies, Braves, Pirates, Diamondbacks and Red Sox needing outfield help. Bruce Chen and Jeff Francis are also going to be hot names on the trade market as there are not a lot of quality lefty starting pitchers available. The Royals need young outfielders, a catcher and young starting pitching back in deals this week as those are the areas they will need some help down the road.

The Royals have signed 28-year old lefty reliever/starter Andrew Dobies to a minor league deal. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in Independent+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-6 with 1 save, a 3.86 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Dobies has now pitched in 175 games (77 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 30-31 with 1 save, a 4.08 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Dobies might get a chance with the Royals later this year if he gets off to a good start in the minors.

The Royals have recalled 30-year old righty swinging infielder Mike Aviles from AAA-ball to replace Wilson Betemit on the active roster. Aviles played in 47 games earlier this year for the Royals and he was 36 for 169 (.213 avg, .647 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 5 homers, 30 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He was then sent to AAA and instead of moping down there, he played well. Aviles has played in 35 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 43 for 140 (.307 avg, .915 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 9 homers, 25 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. I have a feeling that the Royals will be showcasing Aviles for a trade to a team like the Pirates who could really use a player like him.

The Kansas City Royals have dealt 29-year old switch-hitting 3B Wilson Betemit to the Tigers for 21-year old righty swinging catcher Julio Rodriguez and 19-year old lefty reliever/starter Antonio Cruz. Betemit played in 57 games for the Royals so far this year and he is 57 for 203 (.281 avg, .750 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 3 homers, 27 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Betemit played in 141 games in his two years with the Royals and he is 139 for 479 (.290 avg, .830 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 16 homers, 70 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He was a solid player for the Royals.

Neither Julio Rodriguez or Antonio Cruz were considered top prospects coming into this year according to Baseball America. But they are solid ones. Rodriguez played in 66 games in A-ball for the Tigers this year and he was 64 for 226 (.283 avg, .679 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer and 27 RBIs. He has now played in 276 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 241 for 946 (.255 avg, .636 OPS) with 98 runs scored, 5 homers, 125 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Cruz has pitched in 22 games (10 starts) in A-ball this year and he is 2-6 with 1 save, a 3.11 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Cruz has now pitched in 61 games (16 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 7-9 with 2 saves, a 3.09 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Down the road, this could look like a steal for the Royals when you consider that they traded a guy (Wilson Betemit) who wasn’t starting for them.