Are the Royals Trading a Starting Pitcher This Offseason?

This article takes a closer look at the Kansas City Royals’ ongoing outfield problems and the tricky roster choices facing the front office this offseason. Even after a few small moves, the Royals still don’t have steady production in the outfield, so fixing that might mean trading from their pitching depth yet again.

Royals Still Searching for Outfield Stability

Early in the offseason, Royals president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo didn’t hide the club’s main goals. He said Kansas City would consider trading a starting pitcher if it could finally shore up an outfield that’s been a weak spot for years.

They’ve made a little progress, but it’s not enough to erase the doubts. Signing Lane Thomas for one year at $5.5 million and flipping reliever Angel Zerpa for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears made sense as low-risk moves. Still, those changes only moved the needle a bit, and the outfield just doesn’t stack up to what most AL contenders can roll out.

Evaluating the Current Outfield Mix

On paper, things look shaky. Kyle Isbel seems more like a bottom-tier regular than a difference-maker, and Collins might be an average left fielder on a good day. Neither guy really forces opposing teams to change their plans.

Jac Caglianone probably has the most upside because of his raw power. But in his first 62 major league games, pitchers took advantage of his over-aggressiveness. Until he figures that out, his potential is more of a hope than a reality.

Thomas comes in with question marks after dealing with injuries and not doing much after the 2024 trade deadline. Depth guys like John Rave, Dairon Blanco, Drew Waters, and Kameron Misner haven’t really shown they can stick in the majors.

Why Trading Pitching Remains on the Table

The Royals don’t have a ton of payroll room, and their farm system isn’t exactly packed with quick fixes. Realistically, their best shot at upgrading the outfield might still be trading from their pitching staff.

Picollo keeps saying one thing: Cole Ragans isn’t going anywhere. He’s under team control for three more years and looked like a budding ace before a recent rotator cuff scare. The Royals want to build around him, not move him.

Which Starters Could Be Available?

Veteran righties Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo just got extended, so it’s pretty unlikely they’ll be dealt. That makes the pool of potential trade chips pretty small.

Lefty Kris Bubic has put up good numbers when he’s healthy, but he’s had trouble staying on the mound. Noah Cameron has shown flashes, though people still question his strikeout stuff. Neither one is off-limits if another team wants to bet on them as a mid-rotation arm.

Lower down, controllable pitchers like Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek have reportedly gotten some attention. They’re the kind of young arms that might interest teams looking for depth without a huge price tag.

The Limits of the Market

Not every arm holds significant trade value. Bailey Falter may be available, but his likely return would be minimal.

Alec Marsh was once a name to watch in trade chatter. He’ll probably miss the season after November labrum surgery, which takes him out of the mix.

The Royals face a familiar dilemma here. Standing pat probably leaves the outfield short of competitive, but trading pitching could thin what’s become a strength.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Will The Royals Trade A Starter?