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Closing Time: Wade Davis on market, Kelvin Herrera on wire

Will Wade Davis be hugging on west-coast time? (AP)
Will Wade Davis be hugging on west-coast time? (AP)

All things considered, Wade Davis and the Royals led a rather charmed life over the last few years. Davis shifted from a forgotten trade throw-in to a dominant closer, getting downballot Cy Young recognition the last two years. He led surprising charge to the World Series in 2014, and an eventual World Championship in 2015. He’s been as dominant as it gets in the ninth inning, a shutdown stopper, the answer to how you spell relief.

Late July, 2016? It might be time for Davis to pack for Los Angeles — and get ready for the eighth inning. And it’s time for fantasy owners to get one more status check on Kelvin Herrera.

This year’s Royals club probably isn’t going anywhere. Although it scraped by the Angels in Wednesday’s white-knuckle ride, KC currently is two games under .500. It’s reasonable to start looking ahead for next season.

Davis needed a brief DL stint earlier this month, and he’s been ordinary in five appearances since (4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K). He labored in Wednesday’s non-save chance, though he eventually ended the game with the bases loaded. His 1.60 ERA for the season belies some troubling trends — his strikeout rate has tumbled from 13.6 to 10.4 to 8.6 the last two years, and his walks are over 4.0 now. FIP suggests an ERA in the 2.75 range, not bad, but not lights out.

The Dodgers are kicking the tires on a possible Davis trade, and it’s with one thing in mind — building a bridge to ninth-inning ace Kenley Jansen. Unless the Dodgers know something about Jansen’s health than isn’t public knowledge, Davis wouldn’t be closing at Chavez Ravine. Nothing is imminent on the trade front, but we have to accept that a deal is at least plausible.

The Royals have a new closer ready to go if Davis ultimately is traded or reinjured. Herrera’s numbers jump off the page: 1.58 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 57 strikeouts in 45.2 innings. I’m a little surprised he’s merely owned in 36 percent of Yahoo leagues right now, because knockout innings like this have value in most roto formats. You can still make a preemptive Herrera addition in 36 percent of Yahoo leagues.

If you’re looking to play the speculative closer game in another city, consider Cam Bedrosian with the Angels (this is a recording). Huston Street has been ineffective — and high-maintenance — for a few years now, and Joe Smith is also dealing with mediocre play and health concerns. Baby Bedrock passes the eye test, the legacy test, and the stat test (0.97/1.03, 43 Ks in 37 innings). He’s free to grab in 92 percent of Yahoo leagues.

• Dylan Bundy first caught my eye with a seven-strikeout relief appearance against the Dodgers earlier this month, and he’s been interesting since the Orioles moved him to the rotation. Buddy offered five clean innings against Cleveland two starts back, and Wednesday’s turn against Colorado included a no-hit bid into the sixth frame.

Okay, Bundy eventually lost control of the game and the decision, allowing three runs and a couple of homers. But he also struck out eight against just one walk, and remember we’re chasing a pedigree here — Bundy was the fourth overall pick in 2011. Bundy’s next start comes against Texas and Yu Darvish — sounds like appointment television to me. You can kick the tires in 85 percent of Yahoo leagues.

• I’ve always been a believer than stolen bases come in clumps, and that’s why I made a move for Cesar Hernandez in Tout Wars last weekend (and in the Yahoo Friends & Family today). Hernandez also brings other fun things to the table: three positions of Yahoo eligibility, a .290 average.

He’s on a .419/.471/.548 binge the last eight games (with four bags), and it’s pushed him to the leadoff spot in Philly’s lineup (a critical move, especially on an NL club). Hernandez is owned in a modest 15 percent of Yahoo leagues. He was fun last year, maybe he’ll be fun this year.

Carlos Gomez still trades in 61 percent of Yahoo leagues because — well, some things aren’t supposed to make sense. He slashed .217/.282/.332 before the break, and he’s hitting .211 since. He’s striking out a ton, he’s scarcely walking. He’s stolen 12 bases and hit a piddly five homers. He’s been bad against lefties and horrendous (.596 OPS) against righties.

Oh, and now Gomez has a balky hamstring. What are you waiting for? Do not to gentle into that good rotisserie night. We have two months to fix this thing. Start by jettisoning Gomez, something we’ve been trying to get you to do all along.