The non-waiver trading deadline came and went with the Royals making no moves.
In the past two years, general manager Dayton Moore has been busy at or near the trading deadline. Last year he sent closer Octavio Dotel to the Braves for Kyle Davies, who is in the Royals rotation, on July 31. On July 31, 2006, Moore made two trades, sending Matt Stairs to the Rangers for Jose Diaz and Jeremy Affeldt, and Denny Bautista to the Rockies for Ryan Shealy and Scott Dohmann. Moore made four previous deals in July that year.
While the Royals were flooded with calls about Ron Mahay, who is 5-0 with a 1.75 ERA, Moore did not receive an offer that would have led him to pull the trigger. Mahay is signed through the 2009 season.
There were also inquiries about Mark Grudzielanek, Brian Bannister, Zack Greinke and David DeJesus, but nothing that the Royals had to take.
"We just felt at the end of the day that we needed to keep this group together and stand pat with what we have," Moore said. "If we felt, if I felt, there was an opportunity to improve our team for the long term, I would have done it."
Moore said he wanted to keep the bullpen and the core of the pitching staff intact.
