The Royals' Offseason Moves: A Starter on the Trading Block?
In a bold move, the Kansas City Royals' president of baseball operations, J.J. Picollo, has opened the door to a potential trade that could shake up the team's starting rotation. But here's where it gets controversial...
Picollo's comments early in the offseason suggested a willingness to trade a starting pitcher for offensive reinforcements, particularly in the outfield. And it's no secret that the Royals' outfield has been a problem area for years.
Since then, the Royals have made some moves to bolster their outfield. They signed Lane Thomas, a reclamation project with a $5.5MM free agent deal, and acquired Isaac Collins and Nick Mears in a trade with Milwaukee. These moves have certainly improved the outlook for the outfield, but it's still considered one of the weaker groups in the MLB.
Kyle Isbel, a low-end regular in center field, is joined by Collins, who had a strong rookie season but with mediocre batted ball metrics. Jac Caglianone, the group's highest-ceiling player, faced challenges at the MLB level, but the Royals believe he has the potential to take a step forward in his first full season. Thomas, on the other hand, has battled injuries since his trade from the Nationals.
The depth options, including John Rave, Dairon Blanco, Drew Waters, and Kameron Misner, have yet to make a significant impact at the big league level. This lack of depth has kept the Royals actively monitoring the outfield market, even after the recent acquisitions.
With limited payroll space and a weak farm system, trading a starter could be a viable option for the Royals. However, Picollo has downplayed the chances of moving Cole Ragans, who is controllable for three seasons and has shown ace potential. The Royals also extended Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, making it unlikely that either veteran righty will be traded.
Left-hander Kris Bubic, entering his final season of arbitration control, pitched at a top-of-the-rotation level before suffering a season-ending injury. Noah Cameron, another lefty, has shown promise with a sub-3.00 ERA despite a below-average strikeout rate. Controllable depth arms like Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek have drawn interest but could provide crucial injury insurance in the minors. Bailey Falter, with minimal trade value, and Alec Marsh, recovering from labrum surgery, are also part of the discussion.
So, will the Royals make a move before Opening Day? It's a decision that could spark differing opinions among fans and analysts. What do you think? Should the Royals trade a starter for offensive upgrades, or is there another strategy they should pursue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
