Royals trade rumors: Kansas City interested in Alex Rios

Although the Kansas City Royals are expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, they are also pursuing controllable right fielders like Alex Rios of the White Sox, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.

The Royals could be deadline buyers and sellers. They've been watching right fielders, including Rios. http://t.co/MLFLrGHBo6

— Danny Knobler (@DannyKnoblerCBS) July 25, 2013

Rios, who is under team control through next season and has a team option for 2015, is also drawing trade interest from the Pirates, Rangers, Diamondbacks and Red Sox, according to reports. As Knobler says, Kansas City is looking at "under control players who would fill their needs in right field or second base".

Other players who could fit that mold for the Royals and may be available in trade talks are second basemen Rickie Weeks (Brewers), Gordon Beckham (White Sox) and Daniel Murphy (Mets), as well as outfielders Nate Schierholtz (Cubs), Alejandro De Aza (White Sox) and Chris Carter (Astros).

As reported earlier, the Royals are listening to offers for top starter Ervin Santana, who is a free agent after the season, and may move reliever Luke Hochevar.

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