Yordano Ventura might be stirring the pot a little too much these days, but it appears the Kansas City Royals still aren’t willing to let him go.
After Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan reported early Wednesday morning that the Royals have dropped the 25-year-old right-hander’s name in trade talks, a source told MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan the prospect of Ventura getting traded is “complete and utter nonsense.”
Ventura found himself in hot water again Tuesday night when he hit Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado with a pitch, sparking an all-out brawl between the clubs. It’s not the first time Ventura has generated controversy, and Passan insinuated that the fireballer’s teammates and coaches have begun to grow tired of his act.
Yet the Royals aren’t interested in dealing Ventura, a source told Flanagan. The Dominican Republic native is off to a rough start this season, posting a 4-4 record with an ERA that ballooned to 5.32 after he allowed six runs over 4 1/3 innings in that outing against Baltimore, but he still has an impressive arsenal of pitches that includes a 99-mph fastball.
Ventura would be an enticing trade target despite his lack of maturity and control issues, but it appears Kansas City either is standing pat or just trying to drive up the price tag for its young pitcher.
Thumbnail photo via Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports Images
