A look at 3 Royals Deadline candidates

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

KANSAS CITY -- The Trade Deadline is less than a week away.

There has been a bit of action so far, but by 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, expect to see a flurry of deals made. Baseball executives are getting the sense that by the end of the weekend, the market will start to move as teams decide what route they’ll take, which players are available and how aggressive they’ll be.

As for the Royals? There are moves they can, and likely will, make, but they don’t possess that game-changing talent that they can or want to deal this Deadline. They do have players that teams are interested in, so here are three questions facing the Royals in the next few days.

What can they get for RHP Scott Barlow?

Barlow is the club’s trade priority, and several teams are still interested despite his results the past week. The Royals’ closer allowed seven runs (six earned) with six walks (one intentional) and just one strikeout in his past three outings. He’s also struggled to get lefties out this year; they’re hitting .319 against him compared to a .176 opponents’ average vs. righties.

Barlow, who has a proven track record over the past couple of years, is 30 years old, but he does have one more year of control beyond 2023, which should help his value. He’s making $5.3 million this year and will get a raise in his third year of arbitration next year.

Opposing teams will want to give up less for Barlow because of his velocity drop this year, his splits, the shaky part of his outings (they want swing-and-miss stuff) and the fact that he’s likely not a closer on a contending team. The Royals have some leverage because teams that need bullpen help will start to get desperate when the market begins to move; Barlow is still one of the top relievers available along with Alex Lange, Jason Foley, Kendall Graveman, David Robertson and Brent Suter, among others.

Kansas City has maintained its search for Major League-ready help, and the front office wants to add pitching -- although it won’t shy away from a bat that can help stabilize this lineup.

Do they trade RHP Carlos Hernández?

Perhaps the most intriguing move that’s actually realistic is Hernández, who has a 3.78 ERA this year and has turned into one of the more reliable members of the Royals’ bullpen. The 26-year-old still has one more option, is not a free agent until 2028 and throws 100 mph with several secondary options that miss bats.

He’s the kind of reliever teams look for at the Deadline. He’s also the kind of reliever the Royals can build their bullpen around for the future, thus asking for more in return -- perhaps a true top prospect or two.

Sources indicate the Royals are not shutting the door on teams that inquire about Hernández, and they’ve let those teams know what type of talent they’re looking for. But they aren’t quite yet inclined to move him. That could change if teams begin to offer actual names.

What other players can they move?

Infielder Nicky Lopez has begun to garner some interest given his defensive versatility, speed and lefty bat that has a .322 OBP this year despite hitting just .213. He would fit well as a bench player on a contending team and he is arbitration-eligible for the third time this offseason. Similarly, teams have inquired about Edward Olivares, per sources, because of his potential as a right-handed hitter off the bench.

Lefty Ryan Yarbrough could receive some interest as a starter, reliever or both; he’s on a low-risk deal with still another year of control. It would not be surprising for a team who isn’t able to get a deal done for another starter to call on the Royals for Yarbrough, and the Royals would be willing to listen there. It’s unlikely veteran Zack Greinke gets moved; if the team is looking for innings, the Royals would have to pay a large portion of Jordan Lyles’ remaining salary for a team to add him to its staff. However, that could mean the Royals could get better prospects in the deal.

The Salvador Perez rumors haven’t gone away, but it’s unlikely the Royals will trade their veteran captain. Along with his 10-and-5 rights, sources indicate the Royals do not view moving the 33-year-old as a salary dump; they would demand a large and talented package for their All-Star.