Isbel is a useful player to have on a roster, but he's proving he can't be counted on to help the offense. You want him tracking down balls in center field, but not in starts against left-handed pitchers, and possibily in more of a full-time bench role someday soon.

A main reason is the slow-moving nature of this year’s leadup to the trade deadline. A wealth of teams are still deciding whether their playoff potential is real. The Royals are one of six American League teams that are within 5 1/2 games of the final wild-card spot.

The 35-year-old made his first All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove last season, and rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in him ahead of Thursday’s deadline.