How The Royals Can Prove 2 Big Things At The Trade Deadline

The annual midsummer trade deadline looms large on baseball’s horizon. Contenders searching for game-changing down-the-stretch help, and sure sellers like the Royals, have until August 3 at 6pm Eastern to consummate the big deals they and their fans relish.

What Kansas City, buried deep in the American League Central cellar by maddening injuries and a shockingly dismal bullpen, will do is not in question. General manager J.J. Picollo, taking his fourth shot at the deadline since replacing Dayton Moore near the end of the 2022 season, will be selling. His club's poor position takes trying to put together a late contender off the table.

A shakeup is warranted. Unknown at this point, though, is who the Royals are willing to trade, and how much change they want to make. The needs run deep — Cole Ragans' recent elbow surgery is all but certain to sideline him for every bit of next season, Kris Bubic has been out since May and is sure to test the free agent market this winter, 2025 sensation Noah Cameron is in a bit of a funk, and promising Stephen Kolek just joined Ragans and Bubic on the IL. Vinnie Pasquantino is having the kind of down year that might tempt KC to move him; it remains to be seen whether the club is finally satisfied with Michael Massey at second base, and the outfield picture remains uncertain.

And the bullpen needs a serious overhaul.

The impending deal deadline, then, is the hottest sports topic in KC until the Chiefs open their season. But this year’s trade deadline gives the Royals ways to prove a couple of key things.

The Royals Must Use The Trade Deadline To Prove A Rebuild Isn’t Imminent

Sore roster spots and holes abound, but the talent KC already has renders a wholesale rebuild unnecessary. Carter Jensen is proving he belongs, Salvador Perez’s recent surge at the plate suggests he may have enough left in the tank to support a productive 2027, Pasquantino’s bat has been too potent in the past for the club to trade it away now, and Massey is showing he can do the job at second. And Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Jac Caglianone aren’t going anywhere.

Add starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, both of whom the Royals apparently intend to keep, to that good mix, and the foundation is there to make a rebuild — and trade deadline fire sale that would fuel it — baseball malpractice.

Instead, the Royals must proceed with a different purpose. Because starting pitchers may be difficult, and the closer KC so badly needs is virtually impossible to pry away from contenders, Picollo may have to target middle relievers, especially those capable of moving into a finisher role. The Royals could also use more power, but as is the case with a new rotation piece and a closer, they may have to rely on the offseason trade and free agent markets to get what they really want.

But they need to try. Maybe Picollo can swing a surprise or two. Perhaps Bubic can draw some attention so the Royals can get something for him before he tries free agency. Maybe some contender needs pitching so badly that it’s willing to give Picollo a significant bat in return for Lugo, who’s more expendable than Wacha.

All of this will play out soon. Whatever Picollo does, though, he can’t afford to tear this team down and set it on the path of multi-season reconstruction. Dismantling this team isn’t necessary, and fans justifiably wouldn’t stand for it.

The Royals Need To Prove They’re Serious About Contending In 2027

While a rebuild-triggering deadline fire sale must be avoided, the club still needs to provide conclusive evidence that it’s unwilling to settle for mere respectability in 2027, and is instead committed to contending next season. Here’s how they can do just that.

The Royals should put acquiring more utility men on the back burner; with Nick Loftin, Tyler Tolbert, and Josh Rojas if they keep him, the cupboard is far from bare. Massey and Garcia are also capable of playing more than one position if necessary. So is Lane Thomas if he isn’t traded and interest in his possible return is mutual. The Royals crave versatility, but the current inventory should enable them to focus on more critical needs.

Then there’s second base. What we’ve written here before bears repeating — the job should be Massey’s now and next season. He’s proving he can stay healthy, and his .274 average and 101 wRC+ (through Thursday) suggest, as he’s proven before, that he can hold his own in the batter's box. Throw in his serviceable defense, and the Royals should be satisfied with what they have at second and put the resources they’d otherwise devote to filling the position to better use.

Although finding a proven closer may be too much to ask at the deadline, Picollo should, as previously mentioned, at least try to find a reliable reliever with closing potential. Unfortunately, the Royals can’t rely on Carlos Estévez, who’s pitched only once this season, to return to form even if they exercise the club option they hold on him for 2027, and the rest of the present bullpen is shaky.

Picollo also needs to find a solid bat. He won’t be willing to give up enough to get a superstar, and wisely so, but who he’ll probably put on the block should be sufficient to net a decent hitter with at least moderate power and production potential.

Finally, picking up a solid starter would help reduce the uncertainty of KC’s rotation. Caution is warranted, though — Picollo should grab one if the price is right, but it may be better to wait and see what the winter market has to offer.

The bottom line? Even if the Royals can’t do all of these things, doing even a couple will help soothe the pain of this season, and help prove they’re serious about reaching postseason play in 2027.

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