The Kansas City Royals are interested in acquiring an ace and as a result, rumors have it that they inquired about Jon Lester, James Shields and R.A. Dickey. 

According to Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com baseball insider, the Royals think they have the right pieces to form a good/great pitching rotation.

They resigned Jeremy Guthrie after he posted a great end to his season with Royals going 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA after struggling in Colorado at the beginning of the season.

The Royals also added Erving Santana via trade. 

Out of all the three pitchers, Dickey has been posed as possible trade bait as the New York Mets could use help at the catcher and outfield positions. 

Dickey grabbed the CY Young Award in 2012 and is currently set to return to the Mets, but both sides are currently working an extension, while simultaneously the Mets have spoken to teams about trading Dickey. 

Shields, who plays for the Rays and has been an inning eater, is due $10 million in 2013. The Royals would have to get rid of some players as they have about $6 million left to spend.

That is just the problem with the Royals, they are reluctant to get rid of their players. They have prospects and the possibility to have players in the majors that can take them places.

The Royals fanbase has been one of the most patient as they have been hearing as of late that the team's farm system is packed with talent that should make Kansas City a competitive team. 

They have seen players like Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez in action and boy do they have talent. These players are untouchable for the Royals. You can also add shortsop Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon to that list, which compose the Royals diamond defense except for Gordon who covers left field. 

The Royals have the hitting and defense lined up, now they need the pitching, specifically an ace to get the team winning more often.