Royals closer Wade Davis left the team and headed back to Kansas City to receive an MRI on his ailing right arm, sources told Yahoo Sports on Saturday, ending the possibility that the struggling world champions will trade him before Monday’s deadline and continuing the rash of injuries they’ve faced in an increasingly grim season.
Davis, 30, has tried to grit through continued pain in his forearm, which earlier this season sent him to the disabled list and could again. When it refused to subside, Davis decided to return to Kansas City and left on a flight out of Dallas, first noted by Twitter user Casey Jones, who was on the flight.
Earlier this week, Yahoo Sports reported the Royals were contacting teams interested in Davis and trying to package him with struggling starter Ian Kennedy, who is owed $62.5 million over the next four years after signing with the Royals this offseason. While there were no bites, teams continued to express interest in Davis, who over the past two seasons has been the best reliever in baseball.
Despite the injury, Davis has been his solid, if not entirely typical, self. He carries a 1.60 ERA and has saved 21 games for the Royals, who have dipped beneath .500 since the All-Star break. Davis’ value was high despite his drop in strikeout rate and increased walk rate – both of which pointed to an underlying issue.
Still, competitive teams adored the idea of Davis pitching in consecutive postseasons. He closed out the World Series for Kansas City last year, and the $10 million club option on the 2017 season was considered a no-brainer bargain.
Depending on what the MRI shows, that could change. Forearm pain can signal any number of issues, from strains in the four-muscle flexor-pronator mass to issues in the ulnar collateral ligament, which requires Tommy John surgery when damaged. The MRI is expected to provide clarity on the severity of the injury.
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