After a day of rumors and a long night of waiting, the Royals traded closer Wade Davis to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Jorge Soler on Wednesday morning, making official a deal that could have lasting repercussions in 2017 and beyond.
In a deal that served as a pre-emptive strike against a coming free-agent exodus — in addition to a cost-cutting measure for a team looking for payroll relief — the Royals parted ways with one of their best relievers in franchise history.
Davis was a scuffling starting pitcher in Tampa Bay who turned into a bullpen cyborg in Kansas City and delivered a mesmerizing three-year stretch.