The Royals made a trade Sunday unlike any other in their history, obtaining an ace starting pitcher who will become a free agent at the end of the season and going all in for 2015.
Johnny Cueto is coming to Kansas City, and the trade won’t be considered a victory for the Royals unless Cueto has postseason success. Those are the stakes for this transaction that cost the Royals pitchers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed.
Other major trades in Royals history had a profound impact on the club, for better or worse. Some of the greatest players in franchise history arrived via the trade, some who became stars elsewhere started as Royals.