Early trade targets to bolster the Royals’ lackluster offense

How aggressive should they get?

The Royals' offense is sputtering yet again, with the team scoring three or fewer runs in their last seven games and ten of their last eleven. It has become beyond evident that their lineup needs help, and it may not come from within the organization. Adding a bat at the deadline feels imperative, not just to contend this year, but also in years to come.

As we approach June, we are getting a clearer picture of what teams will be willing to trade, and most importantly, what the Royals need to add. When putting together this list, I considered several factors such as:

• Production
• Positional value (Outfield, Second Base, and Utility men)
• Years of control
• Fit in the lineup

We have seen that JJ Piccolo does not just plan for tomorrow but for years ahead of time. He likes to add players with years of control who he thinks can benefit the team for years to come. Any player they target must also fit in with the Royals' current lineup. Today, I looked at all the struggling teams and potential targets for the Royals at the deadline.

Orioles

Best Fits - Cedric Mullins, Heston Kjerstad, Dylan Beavers

Other options - Ramon Laureano, Ramon Urias, Ryan O’Hearn, Jorge Mateo

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the MLB this year has been Baltimore's catastrophic fall from grace after winning 91 games just last year. As of 5/22, the Orioles are still tied with the White Sox for the second-worst record in the MLB, sitting at 16-32. Only the Rockies have gotten off to a worse start after their historically bad 8-41 start. The Orioles have already fired their manager, and they could be major sellers at the deadline come July.

At the top of the trade list in Baltimore is Cedric Mullins, who has gotten off to a hot start this year, with 10 homers and an OPS of .805. Mullins has spent each of his first eight seasons with the Orioles and has been a reliable do-it-all outfielder who brings a good bat, a good glove, and great speed on the bases. With this being the last year in Mullins’ contract and the Orioles needing to extend their young stars, it is likely Mullins will be on the trade block, and he should be the Royals' top target this offseason.

I am also a fan of former top prospect Heston Kjerstad, who has struggled some at the plate this year but has had a good bit of success in the past. He is a quality fielder with tons of potential at the plate and would provide a ton of value in the corner outfield in Kansas City. Dylan Beavers is currently in AAA, and he may be the odd man out in the Orioles' loaded outfield. Beavers is due for a shot in the majors and may be a guy the Orioles are willing to move on from as we get closer to July.

The Orioles have other quality bats, and several players could be available at the deadline. Guys like Ramon Lauriano and former Royal Ryan O’Hearn are hitting with an OPS above .850 and could provide some offense in the corner outfield spots. Ramon Urias can play second and third base and has had a .700+ OPS in every season of his career. The Orioles may also look to trade speedster and super-utility man Jorge Mateo, who can be a great pinch runner and has played solid defense in the past.

Athletics

Best Fits - Zack Gelof

Other options - Tyler Soderstrom, Miguel Andujar, Luis Urias, Gio Urshela

The Athletics tried to flip the script on their reputation as a small market this offseason, extending Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler, and signing Jeffery Springs and Luis Severino to multi-year deals. They also added guys like Jose LeClerc, Gio Urshela, TJ McFarland, and Luis Urias on one-year deals.

The new management showed that they are willing to spend money, and the team has had good stretches, but still, they are last in the AL West and could look to sell at the deadline. The A’s have several solid young players and will not look to completely blow up their roster, but have several players who could help the Royals' offense.

My favorite option for the Royals is Zack Gelof, a young second baseman who has shown flashes at the plate as well as a solid glove and great speed on the bases. The A’s have several young infield prospects, which could allow them to move on from the 25-year-old Gelof. Gelof has team control through 2029, which could make him expensive, and he is coming off an injury (hamate bone and rib), which could cause JJ Piccolo to be hesitant. But I love his skillset, and with Michael Masseys struggles, he could be a great fit in Kansas City.

There are a few other players who could provide some help in the lineup, but they may be weird fits with the Royals going forward. Tyler Soderstrom is mashing this year, but is a first baseman/outfielder who brings a lot of power but not much range in the outfield. Sounds a lot like Jac Caglianone, which makes him a weird fit defensively in Kansas City.

The Royals could also consider Luis Urias, the younger brother of the previously mentioned Ramon Urias. Luis can provide reps at second and third base and is hitting just shy of .800 OPS. Gio Urshela has had past success but is struggling this year and could be a buy-low candidate. Miguel Andujar was once one of the top young players in baseball and nearly won AL ROY over superstar Shohei Ohtani, but never really found that success again. He is hitting better this year with the A’s and may be worth a shot at 3B/OF.

Angels

Best Fits - Taylor Ward

Other options - Yoan Moncada, Luis Rengifo, Jorge Soler, Jo Adell

The Angels have not finished a season with a winning record since 2015. This year, they are looking somewhat competitive in the AL West, but if they start to slip, they have several players I would be interested in at the deadline.

For almost two years now, Taylor Ward has been rumored to be a player the Royals may have interest and I don’t see any reason why that would change now. Ward has been a reliable outfielder, with an OPS over 700 every year since 2020, and is solid with the glove as well. He has another year of team control after this season as well,l which will appeal greatly to the Royals.

The Angels offer several other solid offensive options, such as Yoan Moncada, who is having his best season at the plate since 2019. I was a big fan of Luis Rengifo’s skills at the plate, but he has taken a step back this year and is a miserable fielder, which dampens my interest in him. Former Royal Jorge Soler is another option as a power bat who can play in the corner outfield, but he has taken a step back this year and does not provide much defensively. The last option is former top 10 prospect Jo Adell, who has shown potential and speed but has not produced quite as expected.

Marlins

Best Fits - Dane Myers

Other options - Otto Lopez, Jesus Sanchez

As expected, the Miami Marlins are one of the worst teams in baseball, and it has become quite clear that they will be one of the biggest sellers in the MLB at the deadline. Their biggest trade piece will be star starter Sandy Alcantara, but with the dominance of the Royals' rotation, it's unlikely they will have interest in him. But several offensive players may catch their eye as potential targets in July.

Dane Myers has been a player getting mentioned as a fit for the Royals more and more as the season goes on. Myers is a late bloomer who is 29 years old but is only in his third season in the MLB. He has seen jumps over each season of his career, and this year is hitting with a .857 OPS. He has tied his career high with four home runs and has already set his career high with seven stolen bases this season. He has experience playing left and right field, and has club control through 2029, making him a great fit in Kansas City going forward.

The Marlins will also likely be looking to trade outfielder Jesus Sanchez, who has had success at the plate and has experience at all three outfield spots. Sanchez is having a down year at the plate, with less power than in seasons past, but is getting on base at the highest rate of his career, and his walks are up five percent. Getting on base is valuable, as he has proven to have some value on the bases, stealing a career high 16 bags in 2024. Sanchez is an average defender at best, but his potential offensive value makes him one of my favorite value targets for the Royals this season.

The Marlins will also likely be looking to trade pure infielder Otto Lopez, who has shown he can play almost every position defensively and has flashed potential at the plate. While his raw numbers have not been great, with an OPS below .700, his advanced numbers suggest he may be the victim of some bad luck. His xwOBA is 76th percentile at .357, and his speed on the bases could make him a valuable hitter late in the lineup with utility value as well.

Nationals

Best Fits - Alex Call

Other options - Robert Hassell II, Jacob Young

The Nationals are a team getting ready to make a competitive push in the coming years, but are still a year or two out with their rebuild. The Nationals' bullpen is the worst in baseball, and they have an abundance of outfield talent and will likely look to move on from one or more of their outfielders at the deadline.

My favorite option for the Royals is Alex Call, who has impressed immensely at the plate over the last two years. Call is a primary RF who has experience at all three outfield spots and is hitting with a slash line of .271/.376/.354. While the slugging is not eye-catching, the Royals love players who can put the ball in play and get on base. Call is just that, with a Z-Contact of 89.1%, and also posts an elite K% and BB% that show he consistently provides competitive ABs. Call has team control through 2029 and is likely the odd man out in the Nationals' loaded OF going forward.

With the Nationals having Dylan Crews, James Wood, Jacob Young, and Alex Call in the majors, as well as top prospects Robert Hassell II and Daylen Lile recently arriving, they will need to move on from an outfielder this season. Young and Hassell could be options, but both guys would be viewed as primary center fielders, and with the performance of Kyle Isbel this season, they would likely not be viewed as fits.

Pirates

Best Fits - Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Other options - Tommy Pham, Adam Frazier

The Pirates entered the year with high expectations, with a strong group of young, talented players that they hoped could take a big step forward. This has not been the case so far, and Pittsburgh wound up being the first team in the MLB to fire its manager, and they now hold a 19-34 record. The Pirates have several players they may be selling on, including a few former Royals.

The first name that catches my eye when I look at the Pirates may shock some people. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has had the best offensive season he's ever had, with career highs in almost every category at the plate. He has always been an above-average defender, despite having a down season this year with the glove. IKF has experience playing almost every position defensively and has double-digit steals in every season since 2021.

Other options that the Pirates may look to trade include a few former Royals, in Adam Frazier and Tommy Pham. Both guys finished the year in Kansas City last season, and their familiarity with the coaching staff could make them options to return. Frazier is not hitting incredibly well, but is getting on base at a .315 clip and could be a good option as a pinch hitter like he was last year. Pham is having an awful year, but his performance last season could make a cheap addition at the deadline.

The Pirates have been bad, but they have been kept afloat by their pitching and the only reason I mention Pham and Frazier is their past connection to Kansas City. Their offense has been the worst in baseball, leaving very few options for the Royals to trade for this offseason. Kansas City also has a subpar offense which will make a trade tough to work out especially with the limited options available in Pittsburgh.

Rockies

Best Fits - Ryan McMahon

Other options - Thairo Estrada, Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, Mickey Moniak

The Rockies are the worst team in baseball, and they are guaranteed to be sellers. But the problem with being sellers while also being the worst team in baseball, is that you likely don't have much to sell.

Right now, my favorite option from the Rockies is Ryan McMahon, who is under contract through 2027 but is quite expensive. He can play second and third, but his defense is good and he has good power from the left side of the plate, which may be appealing to the Royals. Kansas City needs an outfielder and will likely not look to pay out for a third baseman with how well Maikel Garcia has played at the hot corner this year.

Thairo Estrada is a second baseman who has had success in the past at the plate but is in a down year and could be available for cheap. Brenton Doyle is a star center fielder who has shown promise at the plate while already being an elite defender. Mickey Moniak was once the number one pick in the MLB draft and had a good year in 2023, if he returns to that form he could be valuable. Jordan Beck had success against the Royals and is a young left fielder who has shown promise at the plate, and may be worth a shot to provide some power in the middle of the order.

The Rockies will be major sellers, with just about everyone on roster being available for the right price. The question will be if the Royals are willing to meet the asking price, and how well their guys fit in Kansas City.

White Sox

Best Fits - Mike Tauchman

Other options - Andrew Vaughn, Josh Rojas

The White Sox are the last team on my list. Coming off one of the worst seasons in the history of the MLB, they have built up their farm system and will likely be sellers again at the deadline. The biggest issue is that they are also in the AL Central, and it is unlikely they will look to sell any major pieces to the Royals if they do not have to. Their biggest potential trade piece is Luis Robert, but I don't see it as very likely that the Royals will be involved at the deadline, as the White Sox will likely look to keep him out of the division.

My favorite option for the Royals is Mike Tauchman, someone who can bring a veteran presence to the team and has been a consistent hitter his entire career. The White Sox signed Tauchman to a cheap one-year deal this offseason, and he will likely be available at the deadline due to his past performance and flash in the pan before getting injured this season. The Royals should be able to get him for pennies on the dollar, and because of his one-year deal and veteran status, the White Sox will have no problem selling him in the division.

Other options for the Royals include Josh Rojas and Andrew Vaughn. Rojas was a target for the Royals this offseason, but they missed out on him, and he has really struggled at the plate this season. The Royals may be able to get him for cheap, and he can provide some depth for the team down the stretch. Andrew Vaughn is a primary first baseman who has also played some corner outfield and has had flashes at the plate in the past. If the Royals think they can get something out of him, he may be worth a shot at the deadline.

Top Ten Options

1. Alex Call
2. Dane Myers
3. Cedric Mullins
4. Taylor Ward
5. Heston Kjerstad
6. Yoan Moncada
7. Mike Tauchman
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
9. Robert Hassell
10. Dylan Beavers