Update -- The Royals have acquired Cueto from the Royals, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. For complete details, check out our updated trade post.
Update -- The Royals remain "hopeful" they can add Johnny Cueto, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Sources: #Royals remain "hopeful" they can revive Cueto deal with #Reds.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2015
Update -- Although they were unable to get a deal done on Saturday night, the Royals and Reds continue to work on a deal that would send Johnny Cueto to Kansas City, according to ESPN's Jim Bowden.
#Royals & #Reds continue to work on deal that would send Johnny Cueto to KC despite hiccup as first reported by @Ken_Rosenthal & @jonmorosi
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) July 26, 2015
Original -- The Reds and Royals scuttled a deal that would have sent right-hander Johnny Cueto to Kansas City earlier tonight, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com. The deal fell through due to the medical records of one player going from the Royals to the Reds not checking out, according to the report.
According to a baseball source, the deal came close enough to fruition that Reds' starter Michael Lorenzen warmed up for the team before tonight's game, preparing to take Cueto's place on the mound in Colorado. The deal was scuttled before gametime, allowing Cueto to pitch, though reports have indicated that Cueto was upset about the way the situation was handled pregame.
Cueto was upset because he found out from Lorenzen before the game that he might be traded. #reds
— John Fay (@johnfayman) July 26, 2015
10 minutes before the start. "It’s going to happen. They’re going to trade me." #reds
— John Fay (@johnfayman) July 26, 2015
Sources have indicated that Cueto was not told by the team that a deal was close, and that Lorenzen was warming up as an insurance policy in case a deal was completed. On the Royals' side, minor-league players were unaware of any pending trade talks, according to sources, and there were no late lineup scratches to indicate that a deal was in the works.
Kansas City has long been linked to the ace righty and will likely continue its pursuit with different pieces, despite interest from other clubs like the Yankees and Blue Jays. It is obviously unclear at this time whether or not the sides will be able to put together a revised deal, though the complete cancellation of a blockbuster trade signals that the questionable medical records of the unidentified Royals' player belonged to a significant piece.
Cueto went eight shutout innings against the Rockies tonight, allowing only four hits and gaining his eighth win of the season. Based on the information at hand, it appears that Cueto was aware of how close the trade came to reality as he took the mound for his start.