"The departure of veteran utilityman Wilson Betemit in a trade Wednesday to the Detroit Tigers raises an inevitable question: Which Royal is next in line as the calendar works toward the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline?

Speculation spiked earlier this week that it could be closer Joakim Soria after general manager Dayton Moore suggested an asking price of two impact starting pitchers – one ready now and one by 2013 – in an interview on MLB Network Radio.

Not so fast.

Moore says he was merely suggesting any trade for Soria would require a major return.

"We certainly understand and appreciate why there would be strong interest in him," Moore said. "He's a premium closer. But he fits for us, and our view of Joakim Soria hasn't changed as it pertains to his importance to our team.

"It would have to be a heavy price. We recognize the importance of having good starting pitching. We feel we have some good internal candidates. You can never have enough (starting pitching), but we need Joakim Soria at the end of our bullpen."

Soria, 26, is a two-time All-Star who has rebounded from a shaky start by converting his last 10 saves opportunities. He has allowed one run in 19 innings over his 17 appearances.

Moore indicated Soria's value in the bullpen is heightened by the likelihood of shifting All-Star setup reliever Aaron Crow to the rotation in 2012. The Royals also control Soria, through club options, for three more years.

"The strength of our team is the bullpen," Moore said. "So what happens if we move Crow to the rotation, and we don't have Soria?"

Moore also dampened speculation that outfielders Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francoeur could head elsewhere. Both are on one-year contracts, but Cabrera, 26, won't be eligible for free agency until after 2012, and Francoeur, 27, shows interest in a multi-year deal."