Yankees, Phillies, Or Red Sox? Potential Trade Partners For Daniel Lynch IV

There is no denying that the Royals bullpen is on pace to be the worst in franchise history, but that’s to say that there haven't been any bright spots. One in particular has been Daniel Lynch IV, who has had a breakout year coming out of the pen. His season has resulted in him becoming a very interesting trade piece for the Royals as the deadline draws closer. 

A Breakout Year For Daniel Lynch IV

Lynch, a first-round Royals draft pick (34th overall) in 2018, has certainly made his mark as the Royals' best arm to come out of the pen. His 1.2 bWAR and 2.09 ERA (backed by a 3.11 FIP) are the best out of any Royals relief pitcher. He’s also one of the best pitchers in baseball when it comes to pitching against lefties, as they are hitting just .147 against him, good for tenth best in all of MLB. A 19.8 K% and 7.0 BB% also help as well. With all that in mind, he is certainly going to be a sought-after pitcher if the Royals were to shop him this deadline. Here are a few options the Royals could go with. 

Lynch IV to the Yankees for Elmer Rodriguez

The Royals are looking for young, controllable talent while the Yankees are looking to bolster their bullpen, so this trade would suit both teams nicely. Lynch would fit in nicely in a stout Yankees pen while Rodriguez will get some much-needed playing time in the Royals rotation if the team were to move on from Lugo and/or Wacha. Rodriguez is in his rookie season, which gives the Royals flexibility just in case he doesn’t pan out in Kansas City. He has scuffled in his first 17 big-league innings, but was ranked in the back half of top prospects by MLB, Baseball America, and Baseball Prospectus prior to the 2026 season.

Lynch IV to the Phillies for Gabriel Rincones Jr.

Another team that needs improvements in their bullpen is the Phillies, whose team ERA of 4.29 could benefit from Lynch’s services. The Phillies are desperate for a lefty, and Lynch fits the bill perfectly. The Royals could ask for a young outfielder in Rincones, who is also in his rookie season, and some cash would be able to get it. Rodriguez, who has struggled in only a handful of plate appearances this season, posted a .799 OPS in Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025.

Lynch IV and Blake Mitchell to the Red Sox for Tyler Uberstine and Mikey Romero

The likelihood of this trade happening is very slim, but it really helps both teams. The Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball and need someone like Lynch to strengthen their pen, but a potential franchise catcher in Blake Mitchell would also help as well. Uberstine and Romero, who are both under team control for the foreseeable future, would fit right in Omaha and potentially get some much-needed playing time in the bigs with a team desperate for young talent.

This swap would be a massive transfer of assets from both teams, but would fill needs all around. The Red Sox, after trading Kyle Teel to the White Sox a little over a year ago, have virtually no catching depth in the majors or upper minors, and Mitchell would give them long-term security behind the dish.

View our top trade candidates list, up to nearly 70 names and updated regularly!