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  • Kansas City Royals Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest Kansas City Royals trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
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    Cory Moen
    The Royals have acquired RHP Nate Pearson from the Houston Astros. Pearson was designated for assignment on July 19. In return, the Royals have sent prospect RHP Max Martin to Houston.
    Pearson had had decent results in the majors for the Astros, with a 3.60 ERA and 4.10 FIP over 20 innings pitched. He's appeared in 16 games, with 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in that time.
    Pearson, a former first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays (28th overall in 2017), is a six-year vet who is under team control through arbitration through the 2027 season. He's currently making $1.35 million this year, so he is still very affordable for a team looking to add to its bullpen depth. 

    Martin has pitched between Single-A and High-A this year, pitching in 26 games, throwing 40 1/3 innings, recording 36 strikeouts with 13 walks. Martin was a 10th round pick in the 2025 draft. 
    Cory Moen
    Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back tightness, which has kept him out of a few games recently. This move is retroactive to July 21, so the first day he will be eligible to come off the injured list is July 31.
    In a corresponding move, the Royals have selected the contract of shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez last appeared in a major league contest in 2023 with the Angels. He has major league experience every year from 2018-2023 and has played at Triple-A the past few years with the Braves, Yankees, and the Diamondbacks and Royals this year. 
    Across 58 Triple-A games this year, he has hit for a slash line of .270/.333/.370. He's played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions this year, so expect to see him at multiple positions when he is on the field.
    To make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster, RHP Stephen Kolek was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list. 
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have signed LHP Aaron Bummer to a minor league deal. Bummer opted out of his minor league deal with the Cubs on July 17.
    Bummer pitched in the major leagues with the Braves earlier this year without much success. He pitched 15 1/3 innings, giving up 13 earned runs and striking out 13 with 10 walks.
    Bummer was released by the Braves and signed with the Cubs in late May. He made six appearances in the minor leagues for the Cubs, pitching six innings, during which he gave up four runs on eight hits.
    Bummer's best season was in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox, where he was worth 2.7 bWAR over 67 2/3 innings pitched. He pitched with the White Sox through 2023 before being traded to Atlanta, where he was until he was released earlier this year.
    Over his 10-year career, Bummer has a 3.94 ERA and 3.44 FIP over 406 appearances and 397 innings.
    Bummer has reported to Triple-A Omaha. 
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have signed Supplemental first-rounder Taylor Rabe, who was the 30th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
    Rabe is a right-hand pitcher from Ole Miss who has touched 100 mph with his fastball. He also throws a slider and a cutter as well. Rabe pitched for the Rebels the past two seasons, and in 17 games pitched this year, he went 5-3 with a 3.55 ERA over 76 innings pitched. In those innings, he had 105 strikeouts with 15 walks.
    He signed for $3,197,500, which is $7,500 above slot value for the 30th overall pick. 
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have traded OF Rudy Martin Jr to the Orioles in return for cash considerations.
    Martin Jr is a 30-year-old outfield prospect who was a former 25th-round pick by the Royals back in 2014. He climbed up the minor league ranks in his first stint with the Royals and got up to Triple-A Omaha back in 2019. He returned to Triple-A Omaha in 2021 and was granted free agency after the 2021 season.
    He played the 2022 season in the Washington Nationals organization and then played in Independent Ball in 2023 and 2024. He played in the Mexican Winter League in 2024-2025 prior to re-signing with the Royals for the 2025 season. 
    He's played the majority of the 2026 season in Double-A but earned a call-up to Triple-A. Between the two levels, he slashed for a .284/.414/.441 across 255 plate appearances. He's walked at a 16.1% rate and struck out at a 23.5% rate as well. He also has eight home runs and 33 stolen bases on the year. 
    He had an upward mobility clause in his contract that he triggered, and the Orioles chose to add him to their 40-man roster, which was the first time in his career that he earned a 40-man roster spot. It will be interesting to see if the long-time minor leaguer can earn his first major league call-up with Baltimore. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Tuesday afternoon, the Royals announced that they had acquired right-handed pitcher Easton McGee from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. To make room for McGee, the Royals transferred reliever Nick Mears to the 60-Day IL. 
    McGee pitched in 9 outings and 14.2 IP last season with the Brewers, posting a 5.52 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. However, his FIP was much better at 3.24. This year, he's spent most of it in Triple-A Nashville, as he has only appeared in two games for the Brewers. In those two outings, he has a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He showcased an intriguing TJ Stuff+ profile, though he didn't generate many whiffs in his brief Brewers tenure this year. 

    With the Sounds in Triple-A, McGee has a 5.62 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 4.18 WHIP, and 13.6% K-BB% in 41.2 IP. In Nashville, he has done a good job of flooding the strike zone, with strong percentiles in zone rate and CSW. That is something sorely needed with this Royals bullpen, which ranks 28th in reliever BB/9 this year. 

    In a corresponding move, the Royals moved Mears from the 15-Day IL to the 60-Day IL. Mears had been on the IL since May 29th due to right shoulder impingement. The former Brewers pitcher, acquired this offseason along with Isaac Collins in the Angel Zerpa trade, had a 5.12 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 21 appearances and 19.1 IP before going on the IL.  
     
    Kevin O'Brien
    To lead off Day 2 of the MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected left-handed pitcher Ethan McElvain with the 151st pick. McElvain was the closer for the Arkansas Razorbacks and posted a 1.88 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 4.23 K/BB ratio in 38.1 IP and 20 appearances. He also collected six saves.
    McElvain was a transfer from Vanderbilt, where he had an uneven career. In his first year, he posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 25 IP. However, in his sophomore year, he posted an 8.89 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in 27.1 IP. Command was a problem for McElvain with the Commodores, as he posted K/BB ratios of 1.93 in 2024 and 1.61 in 2025. His improvement in his K/BB ratio in 2026 shows his maturity and development as a pitcher. 
    The 21-year-old lefty is a power arm with a fastball in the upper 90s and a power cutter. He will likely move quickly through the Royals' farm system and could push for a spot in the Royals' bullpen in 2027 or 2028. 
     
     
    Kevin O'Brien
    In the fourth round, the Kansas City Royals selected Dominic Battista, an outfielder from Oswego East High School in Illinois. Selected 119th overall, Battista is committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago. 
    Battista missed some time due to a hamate injury, but he's been widely hailed by scouts for his toolsy and athletic profile. Here's what Prep Baseball said about him back in a write-up last August. 
    Battista will be a project of sorts, as he is currently 18 and won't turn 19 until October. Prep Baseball ranked him the 6th-best player in Illinois and the best outfielder in the state as well. The Royals are now done for the first round, having made all four of their picks. A complete review of Day 1 of the MLB Draft will be posted on Royals Keep later this evening. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    Maxx Yehl thrived out of West Virginia's bullpen as a 2023 freshman and again in 2024, but Tommy John surgery cost him 2025.
    Back in 2026, the 6-foot-6 lefty seized his first shot at starting, became the Friday night ace, won Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, and clinched the Mountaineers' first College World Series berth. Yehl is known for his durability post-injury, having thrown a 124-pitch complete game against the University of Kansas on May 8th.
    His fastball has hit 96-97 mph, backed by an above-average slider up to 87. Late-season fatigue is understandable post-surgery. A strong strike-thrower and competitor with limited starting experience, he could stick in a rotation—or fall back on his fastball-slider combo in relief.
    Cory Moen
    Kris Bubic was on a rehab assignment, looking to return to the Royals rotation in the future, but he was scratched from his most recent start after receiving a cortisone shot in his sore shoulder.
    This season has been a lot of stop-and-go, with Bubic on the injured list with an elbow injury before the shoulder injury was found during another rehab assignment. He has stopped and started rehab assignments multiple times, with his most recent appearance being on June 28, where he threw two innings. 
    Bubic was transferred to the 60-day IL, which was more of a procedural move, having been out since May 18 (retroactive to May 15).
    The Royals hope this setback doesn't keep Bubic out too long, as they need help in their rotation, especially with Cole Ragans being out for the year after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. 
    Being an impending free agent, the Royals were hoping Bubic would come back and become their most enticing trade piece come the August 3rd trade deadline. It's possible he could still be traded, but he may not return to the major leagues before the trade deadline, which will limit his appeal to teams looking for a rotation boost. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Saturday, Major League Baseball named the All-Star rosters for the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. The Kansas City Royals were fortunate to have two players make the American League roster.
    Bobby Witt Jr. not only made his third consecutive All-Star team, but he was named the AL starting shortstop, the first time he's been named a starter in the Midsummer Classic. 
    Witt leads all American League players in fWAR with a 4.6 mark. Only the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong is ahead of Witt in the Majors with a 5.2 mark. The Kansas City shortstop is also hitting .289 with an .830 OPS. That includes 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 44 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. He also has a .358 wOBA, .395 xwOBACON, and 130 TJ Bat+, which rank in the upper percentiles of the league, according to his TJ Stats Statcast summary. 

    The other Royals player to make the All-Star team was pitcher Michael Wacha. Wacha has been the Royals' best starting pitcher this year, much-needed considering the injuries to Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic. 
    As of Saturday, Wacha has a 3.46 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.88 FIP, and 12.3% K-BB% in 112 IP. Even though he's not a strikeout machine (19.1% K%) and his stuff isn't eye-popping (96 overall TJ Stuff+), he's been efficient on the mound for the Royals. He's produced 12 quality starts, which leads all AL starting pitchers and is second in baseball to Philadelphia's Cristopher Sanchez, a favorite for the NL Cy Young award.
    Though Wacha has been prone to giving up home runs (he gave up two on Saturday to the Phillies), he has been solid this season when it comes to limiting hard contact and generating strikes. 

    Wacha ranks in the 75th percentile in Zone%, 90th percentile in Barrel%, and 87th percentile in Hard-Hit% and Average EV allowed. The 35-year-old is producing these metrics despite having only two pitches in his arsenal with TJ Stuff+ marks of 100 or higher. 
    This is the second All-Star appearance for Wacha, who last made the All-Star team in 2015 when he was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. That season, he posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 3.87 FIP in 181.1 IP with the Cardinals. 
     
     
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have announced they have selected the contract of catcher Luke Maile. To make room on the 26-man roster, OF John Rave has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
    Since Maile was not on the 40-man roster, RHP Eric Cerantola has been designated for assignment or release.
    Maile has played 28 games with the Storm Chasers this year, hitting for a slash line of .202/.324/.303 and serving as depth behind the dish.
    Rave has played in nine games for the Royals, with 18 total at-bats. He's looked solid in the small sample size, with one home run, one triple, and one double since being recalled. Prior to being called up, he had hit for an .870 OPS with Triple-A Omaha with 10 home runs and 10 doubles over 60 games played. He also stole 16 bases in that time frame, earning his call-up, which proved to be pretty short. If he continues to hit, he will likely be back in Kansas City soon.
    Cerantola was called up for his major league debut earlier this year, pitching in four games and completing 5 1/3 innings. His results were not great, as he issued 10 walks and gave up two home runs, along with striking out 7 hitters.
    Maile will likely serve as the backup catcher behind Carter Jensen, with Salvador Perez dealing with a sore left elbow. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Thursday afternoon, the Royals announced that they had signed former closer Scott Barlow on a Minor League deal. 
    Barlow pitched with the Royals from 2018 to 2023, serving as the team's closer in his last three years. Over that time frame, the righty saved 53 games with Kansas City. During his 5 1/2 years with the Royals, the former Dodgers draft pick produced a 6.7 bWAR, a 3.39 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 2.98 K/BB ratio. 
    The Royals traded Barlow to the Padres at the 2023 Trade Deadline for pitching prospects Henry Williams and Jesus Rios (only Williams remains in the organization). After finishing the 2023 season with the Padres (3.07 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 29.1 IP), he ended up pitching for the Guardians in 2024 (4.25 ERA in 55 IP) and the Reds in 2025 (4.21 ERA in 68.1 IP). 
    This season, Barlow pitched 36 games with the Athletics and struggled in 33.1 IP. He posted a 6.48 ERA in Sacramento, a career-worst mark. As a result, the Athletics designated Barlow for assignment on June 21st and ended up releasing him on June 24th.
    With a lack of bullpen depth and Kris Bubic recently added to the 60-Day IL, the Royals are looking for Barlow to provide a veteran presence in Triple-A Omaha and perhaps Kansas City, if needed. While the overall numbers aren't great, and the TJ Stuff+ marks are subpar (97 overall TJ Stuff+), he still generates strikes at a high level, as illustrated by his CSW and whiff rates below.

    The 33-year-old will likely start in Omaha. However, he could move up to Kansas City quickly, especially with the Royals needing fresh arms for a tough series against the Phillies this weekend at Kauffman Stadium, and a looming road trip to Queens (the Mets) and Baltimore (Orioles) before the All-Star Break. 
    Barlow is the second former Royals reliever to return to the organization this year. Jose Cuas made his 2026 Royals debut on Wednesday, allowing one run and striking out three Rays hitters in two innings of work. He also posted a TJ Stuff+ of 100 and a decent xwOBACON of .350, as seen below via his TJ Stuff+ summary.

    Cuas hadn't pitched in the Majors since 2024, and he last pitched with the Royals in 2023. That season, he posted a 4.54 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 41.2 IP before being traded to the Chicago Cubs at the Trade Deadline for Nelson Velazquez. 
     
    Steve Drumwright
    July is starting with a handful of moves involving the pitching staff.
    Right-handed reliever Connor Seabold was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right lat and right-handed reliever Eric Cerantola was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Coming up from Omaha to replace them are right-handers Jose Cuas and Randy Dobnak. Cuas had to be added to the 40-man roster, so left-handed starter Kris Bubic was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.
    Seabold pitched just two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 10-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Seabold, with his third MLB team this season, has appeared in five games for the Royals, giving up six runs (five earned) over seven innings with four walks and five strikeouts.
    Cerantola followed Seabold in Tuesday's game by going 1⅓ innings and walking six. He has allowed six runs in 5⅓ innings for a 10.13 ERA.
    The 32-year-old Cuas, who made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Royals, is back in the majors for the first time since 2024, when he appeared in 13 games for the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. He has a 3.31 ERA in 29 games over 32⅔ innings with 19 walks and 33 strikeouts.
    Dobnak started the season at Triple-A with the Seattle Mariners, then exercised a June 15 upward mobility clause that landed him with the Royals in a cash trade. He was added to the 40-man roster upon being acquired and made two starts at Omaha, allowing six runs in 10⅔ innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts for a 5.06 ERA. Dobnak appeared in one MLB game with the Minnesota Twins in 2025.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Kansas City Royals right-handed starter Stephen Kolek, who was already on the paternity list as he was expecting the birth of his first child, was moved to the family medical emergency leave list Tuesday.

    No further details on Kolek's personal situation were made available. He was also placed on the family medical emergency leave list June 4 and returned June 9. Kolek went on the paternity list Friday, which allows three days of leave from the team.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    It might have been in the Kansas City Royals' plan anyway, but a disastrous outing Friday earned Mitch Spence a trip back to the minors.
    The Royals on Saturday optioned Spence back to Triple-A Omaha and called up right-hander Eric Cerantola from Triple-A.
    Spence had been called up Friday to take the spot of right-handed starter Stephen Kolek, who went on paternity leave. With the Royals filling Kolek's scheduled start with a bullpen game, Spence came on in the second inning and got the final two outs of that inning, then proceeded to allow 10 runs in the third in what would become a 22-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Spence finished by allowing eight hits and three walks, giving up a pair of homers in 1⅓.
     
    Cerantola is with the Royals for a third time this season. In his previous two, he pitched a total of four innings over three games, allowing four runs on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.
     
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