Trade Deadline not hot topic with Yost, players

KANSAS CITY -- Trade talk? The non-waiver Trade Deadline is a week away and there's been precious little concerning the Royals.

During his media briefing on Wednesday, manager Ned Yost was asked about his take on the situation and if his players talked about it much.

"I don't pay attention to it, neither do they -- not very much," Yost said. "I haven't heard them mentioning it. I don't walk around and say, 'Hey, you heard any new trade rumors today?'

"I don't read the papers, Dayton [Moore, general manager] and I talk all the time and there hasn't been a lot of conversation about it. So, I haven't been too interested in it."

If Yost had been reading the Kansas City Star on Wednesday, he'd have seen columnist Sam Mellinger suggesting that this might be a good time to get some return for free agent-to-be Ervin Santana. Or if Yost had checked in to MLB Trade Rumors, he'd have seen that the Red Sox have interest in reliever Luke Hochevar, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

A lot could depend on how the Royals do in the next few games against the Orioles, White Sox and Twins. Kansas City was eight games off the pace prior to Wednesday night's game with the O's. The deadline comes at 3 p.m. CT on July 31.