In the world of baseball, some iconic players nearly switched teams in deals that ultimately fell through. During an episode of “Diggin’ Deep,” former Royals general manager Dayton Moore shared an interesting story along with ex-players Eric Hosmer and Peter Moylan about a trade that could have hugely impacted the American League.
Moore recounted a moment back in 2013 when he was in Houston. He received a call from Jeff Renault, who, while sipping coffee at Starbucks, proposed a trade that would send José Altuve to Kansas City in exchange for Eric Hosmer. Moore quickly shot it down. “No. No. I wasn’t fond of trading major league players,” he said.
Back then, both Houston and Kansas City were at pivotal moments in their franchises’ histories. The Astros were enduring a tough time, racking up a staggering 111 losses that year, making it one of the worst seasons on record.
However, the team rebounded impressively, clinching two World Series titles and consistently reaching the American League Championship Series from 2017 through 2023.
On the other hand, Hosmer and the Royals weren’t struggling either. Just a year after the trade was proposed, Kansas City made its first playoff appearance in nearly three decades, although they fell to the Giants in the World Series.
Then, in 2015, the Royals broke through and captured their first championship since 1985 by defeating the Mets in five games. During that time, Hosmer solidified his role as a first baseman, earning a spot on the All-Star team and collecting four Gold Glove Awards over seven seasons with the Royals.
Altuve, on his end, has built a remarkable career entirely with the Astros, nearing the milestone of 2,300 hits, which could very well lead him to the Hall of Fame.
