Closer Kelvin Herrera has been to a pair of All-Star Games and there is a good chance he would have been the Royals' representative at this year's Midsummer Classic.
As the Royals start on a rebuild, Herrera was one of the biggest trade chips for the team.
On Monday night, they cashed in on that chip. The Royals traded Herrera, who will be a free agent at season's end, to the Washington Nationals for three minor-league players: third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Yohanse Morel.