The offseason for the Kansas City Royals kicked off with a bang. After re-signing Michael Wacha earlier in the offseason to a three-year $51 million contract with a mutual option for 2028; the Royals then went to the trade market to acquire the bat they had their eye on. Infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer were traded to Kansas City in exchange for 2018 first round pick, starting pitcher Brady Singer. A bittersweet trade from the perspective of the Royals.

Acquiring a leadoff hitter that you can pencil in every time was definitely one of the ultimate goals of the offseason, and with India, they’ve solved that equation. He immediately slides up top and provides Bobby Witt Jr. with some on base ability before the superstar steps in the box. While also adding a piece in Joey Wiemer that could be moldable and is controllable for the future. But it was at the cost of losing a fan favorite and cornerstone of the Royals the last few years.

Rumors around Singer were swirling during the GM meetings, and J.J. Picollo came out and said: “Brady is a lock in our rotation” which is why I was a bit taken aback when the reports came out that Singer was being shopped to the Reds. This was a good old fashioned baseball trade, with both teams trading from a place of strength and helping out each other with no prospects involved. The good thing for both teams? The return on investment from this trade will be in 2025, not years from now. It sucks to lose Singer, and they’ll have to replace 170 innings, but at the end of the day I think they felt like they could replace Singer as a four-five starter, easier than finding that perfect leadoff man in free agency. Which is easier said than done, but you have to trust the progress the pitching development team has done while they’ve been here.  

But now, we have to get what this piece is *actually* about.

Not this trade, but more importantly: What Comes Next for the Royals after the trade for Jonathan India?

What might the Winter Meetings have in store for the Royals?

We’ll get to the pitching side here in a moment, but why did the Royals get kicked out of the postseason in 2024? The offense sputtered out. This is why adding bats is what we’re going to focus on first. The Royals outfielders in 2024 hit a collective .222/.281/.367 the worst in all of baseball. The Royals also had the worst production from the leadoff spot in 2024, so if the Jonathan India trade tells you anything, whether you liked it or not, it makes you think that the Royals will upgrade the outfield for 2025. And to be honest with you, I think this is where they’ll make a splash.

The outfield NEEDS massive improvement, and the lineup needs to have some protection after Salvador Perez. Because right now, the top four are pretty solid, some of the best in baseball. Yes, I said that. But it looks pretty barren after that. Michael Massey in my opinion, is more of a six-hitter, and would thrive in a position where he can clean everything up. Health is a concern for Massey, who had lingering back issues in 2024, so I’m unsure of what his role is on the 2025 team. I, for one, think he should be a lock in this lineup however you shake it up. When he’s on the lineup card, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

With the acquisition of India, there have been talks of Massey moving to the outfield or third, and they “believe in his athletic ability”, as well as India’s. But I don’t know if I would count on that, with his injury history. Let’s not continue to set him back physically if we can help it. In all honesty, if Massey could play third, that would be the most ideal situation and solve most of the problems. His arm has been an issue at second so that is your main concern obviously, but Massey hits like a third baseman. A big defensive move at this point in his career is not ideal, but I feel like if he’s learning a new position anyway, it might as well be in the infield. You could also serve a steady platoon of Massey/Garcia at third and let India do his thing at second. But, based on recent reports of the Royals wanting to trade rather than spend for talent, Massey or Garcia could be a piece that the Royals end up moving.

Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported that the Royals are “more likely to acquire that middle-of-the-order target on the trade market rather than a free agent splash”. That does make sense, they did already spend some capital on Michael Wacha earlier in the offseason. Although it wasn’t a bunch, $51 million tied to one player has been a lot for the Royals in the past. Hopefully, with John Sherman continuing to be at the helm, he’ll continue to spend money for free-agent additions that are considerable improvements. This report lets you know that the Royals aren’t going to be a part of the top tier level of free agents. Which we knew that before of course, but instead they might shift their focus to trading for a big bat. And continue to fill in the roster on the margins. It really is hard to say what the Royals will do since there are so many conflicting reports. 

Earlier in the offseason they said they were going to make a point to upgrade the outfield whether that be by free agency or trade, and that they were willing to spend if it was the right player. In addition, Rosenthal highlights that they would like to stay around the same payroll as last season which was in the ballpark of $120-130 million. As we stand today (12/9), the Royals are at $116 million. So once again, a bit of contradictory reports, they want to add, but don’t to add a lot more money from last year’s payroll? Any player you acquire on the trade market is probably going to be an inherited contract as well, so they will need to open up the check book at some point, it’s inevitable. It’s just going to cost you these days, and you’re in the middle of a financial “boom” in the industry of Royals baseball. You are going to make the money back and then some if you continue to have success and go to the postseason. It is a bit peculiar since before last season they were willing to spend before a big vote for the stadium and now we’re saying that we wanna stay approximately where we were last season from a payroll perspective. But that’s none of my business, and I’ll keep it at that. 

Now, onto the fun stuff!

We’re going to take a look at every option that is out there and why they’d be good for this Royals team. In terms of team need of course. No need to highlight shortstop, catcher, or any position we think is a lock for an existing Royal. Throughout I will list why they fit and if I think it’s a realistic shot. I’ll give a few preferences at the end. I don’t even want to try to predict because we have no idea. Something is going to come out of nowhere and surprise us anyway.. So without further ado, let’s get this party started.

Team Needs

Leadoff Hitter (✅),Outfield (!!!), 4/5th Starter, RP, 3B, Fill-in Bench

Free Agent Outfield Market:

Anthony Santander was actually one of the first names that I was attracted to when this free agent class became official. He was one of Baltimore’s most reliable hitters in 2024 and had a stretch there near the end of the season where he was keeping them in every single game. His home run chase was a fun thing to watch all season, as he finished with 44 HRs and 102 RBI in an amazing contract year for him. Because of that, I imagine the Royals will be outbid by another team. I believe he’s even outside the Orioles price range when it’s all set and done, because Baltimore just signed Tyler O’Neill to a three-year deal. The price might be driven up more now that Juan Soto has signed, but initially I thought he’d be incredible for this Royals team. He screams Kendrys Morales, and everyone remembers how fun it was to place him into the lineup in 2015-16. You slot him in the five-spot, and he will consistently play, contribute and produce for you. The last three seasons, he’s averaged 153 games played and 35 homers a season. That’ll definitely play. His batting average is his one knock, as he only batted .235 last season, and an OBP of .308 so ideally you’d like to get on base more. With the Royals talking a lot about how important it is to get on base, and putting together great plate appearances, I’m unsure if Santander is the ideal fit here. But his power will play anywhere, and if the Royals do sign him I would not be upset in the slightest. Just not likely I would say. I’d say he goes to a big market and gets his payday, good for him.

This guy is the dream scenario I think. And it will definitely take a pipe dream to make it happen. Teoscar Hernandez hits the free agent market after a phenomenal 2024 season where he hit .272, 33 HRs, 99 RBI, and won the Home Run Derby, outlasting Bobby Witt Jr. in the final round. Wouldn’t it be fun to see both of them in the same lineup with Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez slotted between them? That gives me visions of sugarplums dancing in my head.

Of course he was in the Dodgers lineup with many future Hall-of-Famers so that would tell you that’s why he had such a good year. No stress, no pressure. But if you place him in Kansas City, he would hit in just about the same exact place. He would be relied upon a bit more, but he adds a new flair of competitiveness that this team doesn’t have. He won a World Series this past year, and I am always willing to take guys that have that experience. Once again, coming off a career year in a contract year is definitely going to cost a team, and I don’t think the Royals will end up spending that kind of money on one guy. So even though I don’t think this is going to happen, it is the dream scenario for me and many Royals fans. Because this guy straight up brings it every time he is on a baseball field. 

The most ideal Royals projection has got to be signing Jurickson Profar to a two-three year contract. He fits all the needs that the Royals are looking for. Defensive flexibility, veteran leadership, he gets on base, and he doesn’t strike out a ton. Profar had a .380 OBP in 2024, with a .839 OPS to swing with it. It was truly a breakout season for the 11-year veteran who used to be the top prospect in all of baseball when he entered the league. Injuries and overhype have definitely affected his career, but it really wasn’t until he showed up in San Diego that he became the player he is now. Which I think is the biggest red flag with him. He could leave the Padres like he did originally in 2023, and it could just be the flamed out prospect that finally put it all together to get a contract. On the flipside, he could have just finally matured into the player he’s always destined to become. It’s crazy to think about, but he is only 31 years old, it seems like he’s been in the league forever. According to a new article by Ken Rosenthal, there are reports that he is out of the Royals price range, but if they’re trying to upgrade I don’t see how he could be. Juan Soto’s new contract might push the market for the rest of the outfielders, but I still don’t think Profar will get anywhere near $25 million a year. I think the only thing that is a bit of a setback for the Royals here, is that I think Profar would be a leadoff hitter preferably, but you already have Jonathan India. Who they have said is the leadoff hitter, whether you like it or not.  So I imagine the Royals will go in a different direction, but if he’s added, he’ll be a welcome addition. 

When I think of Alex Verdugo I always think of untapped potential just waiting to be extracted. Look, I don’t think that Verdugo is a gamechanger, or flips everything on its head. But, he is good defensively, and other than this past year with the Yankees, he has hit for pretty good average. Every year in his career, besides 2024, he has an average of .260 or higher. Most of the time being in the .280-.300 range. He still has his double capability, hitting 28 in 2024, but in previous seasons he had years of 30+ doubles three years in a row. At the end of the day, I feel like Verdugo is your backup plan just in case you don’t get precisely what you want. Because he will be a quality hitter for you, supplying you with some great at-bats, and he’s only 28 years-old. He might still have some more power potential in his game we haven’t seen yet. But if you take him as a 10-20 homer guy with 30+ doubles, this guy is going to start every day for you. Not the most ideal choice, but I wouldn’t be upset at all.

With our next one, we’ll say hey to one of our old division pals in Max Kepler. I personally think that Max Kepler is probably going to go to the Yankees or somewhere where he can pull the ball, hit some bombs, and hit the market next year. So, if the Royals end up being that place I can’t say I’d be mad at them for it. I wouldn’t want him to be the lone upgrade if we do sign him, but he could be valuable for this team. He’s struggled with injuries on and off the past few seasons, with 2023 being a bit of a return to normal for him. Kepler ideally wouldn’t want to go to a place where he would be splitting time and I don’t think Kansas City is his final destination. He could add some much needed pop to the offense, but injuries scare me a bit with him. And in years where he falls short, he’s BAD bad. I personally would steer clear of Kepler, but I would be foolish to not point out that his offensive output could really make a considerable impact this team. 

The next one I’m pretty intrigued by is Jesse Winker. I think this is a very realistic move for the Royals during this offseason. Yes, the numbers don’t jump off the page at you with Winker, but I think he is a rotational outfielder/DH for you that could be a really solid bat. He also has a bunch of intensity, which is great for any young team that is striving to make it back to the postseason. While the past couple years have been pretty up and down with him, the analytics will tell you that he is someone the Royals should take a look at. According to Baseball Savant, Winker is in the 96th percentile in walk rate, chase rate, and is in the 89th percentile in Batting Run Value. His numbers aren’t necessarily the best, and Kauffman Stadium and Winker might not be a good match, but we want smart hitters and Winker is one of those. In addition, Jonathan India and Jesse Winker’s best seasons were when they were batting right next to each other in the lineup. That won’t happen in KC, but there is some familiarity there between the two players. And maybe, just maybe you could see peak Jesse Winker return.

I almost don’t even want to mention Joc Pederson in this article, but Bleacher Report projected him to sign with the Royals and I don’t know if that is anywhere near what he wants or what the Royals want. Joc has always been on the west coast and I don’t anticipate that stops here. He had a pretty good season in Arizona where he had a .275 average, 23 bombs, and a .393 OBP. Very good numbers for Joc, but it’s against righties that really make him intriguing. He hit .281, an OPS of .923, with 22 of his 23 homers against righties. So that is definitely an interesting platoon. That would mean the end of MJ Melendez probably, which is why I don’t think they make that move. But having a player that just mashes righties in the middle of this lineup would be electric. And that’s what Joc is: electric.

Outfield Trade Market: 

Get ready for these, because some of them are going to be a bit out there. I added a couple that I really like as additions to this Royals squad. I really think that Jake McCarthy might have the highest possibility of being a Royal of anyone on this list. He just checks just about every box when it comes to what a Kansas City Royal is. Plays elite defense, has elite speed, hits for average, and gets on base. What else do you want out of him? He doesn’t necessarily walk at a high rate, but that’s always something you can attempt to develop. He’s still only 27 years old and has four more years of control, so that would be the part that makes him expensive. But in 2024 he played the most amount of games that he has in his entire career, and had career bests in average, OBP, triples, stolen bases, and RBI. Like this guy is someone you put a lot of stock into what he could become, because he has only gotten better. Arizona has a bit of an outfield surplus, so that would be the reason why they are getting rid of him. But there are others there like Lourdes Gurriel and Alek Thomas I’d be interested in too. But specifically I think McCarthy gives you the type of player the Royals like, and the metrics tell you he’s only going to get better. I think this is an out of the park move if you can make it, and depending on what you are giving up. For instance, if you have to give up a top five player in your system and something else, I think you go elsewhere. But if you can get it done at a reasonable price, I think you pull the trigger. Him and Bob running the bases together would be electric. Another reason to trade for him: He can play centerfield. I know Kyle Isbel is out there, but how much longer are you going to trot out a .210 hitter with great defense when you can acquire someone who is just better in every way. That opens up the opportunity for MJ to continue to flourish, and worst case, Isbel and McCarthy wouldn’t let anything drop out there. This guy is good. You don’t have the full potential at your disposal yet, but based on his playstyle, the Royals could unlock a whole new monster for Kauffman Stadium. And when the D-Backs were here in August, our lovable Rex Hudler, couldn’t get enough of him. So what else is there to say, he’s got the Rex stamp of approval.

I think that this one is a little bit less likely because of the India move, but Lars Nootbaar is another one of those players that seems like a Royal. He gets on base, hits well, has double power, plays adequate defense. I don’t know if the Cardinals would really be inclined to move him, especially if they move another player I’ll bring up later. Nootbaar is coming off a down year, where he did struggle with some injuries but he will be entering his age-27 season. So he does have some time left to develop and become a more polished hitter. He already walks just about as much as he strikes out, which is hard to come by nowadays. So if you are able to get him for a relatively inexpensive price I would say go for it. He doesn’t particularly fit this team as a middle of the order bat, but he will get on base for you, and if you could keep developing his gap to gap and line to line power, he could hit 40 doubles at Kauffman.

This one depends a lot on what the Rangers are going to do on the free agent market. Because I personally don’t see them getting rid of Adolis Garcia unless someone blows them away or they get a replacement. His 2024 was abysmal, and I’m sure that’s why he’s even getting tossed around in trade rumors. But he is only one year removed from a World Series MVP and one of the craziest stretches of baseball we’ve seen the past few years. He definitely fits the bill when it comes to the middle of the order bat. He won’t hit for a bunch of average and he’ll strike out A TON, but he’s good for 25-30 bombs and 100+ RBI in this lineup I assure you. Which I think out balances the strikeouts in the long run. I would just love someone who hits a bit better. He does have an extra year of control past 2025 so that might drive the price a little more, but say you get Garcia for a Carter Jensen, Daniel Lynch/Alec Marsh, and Nick Loftin. I say you pull the trigger. 

Look, I’m going to feed it to you straight here. There is probably a 5-10% chance that Cody Bellinger becomes a Royal, but wouldn’t that be incredible? I don’t even know what you would give up, especially if you have to pay a lot of his contract, but he just sounds like a New York Yankee already. So, that’s why I think we won’t take the flyer on him. He is owed $27.5 Million this upcoming year and has an opt-out after the season, so I feel like it’s a bit of a lose-lose for the Royals. Yeah, you get a year of Belli, and he *might* enjoy it enough to stay. But the higher possibility is that you give up something for him, pay at least some of the contract, and then he just leaves and signs a huge deal next offseason. So, I don’t think it’s something that the Royals end up doing because I don’t think it makes sense for them. I would love the production of Bellinger, and him being in the five-hole would be spectacular. But I have a feeling we might have a Bellinger type player from the left side named Jac that will be up sooner than we think. 

One trade target that I found searching around is Masataka Yoshida. Bare with me here, I know it sounds a bit out there, but it’s much more likely than you think. The Red Sox are in on Soto and already have a couple outfielders in the oven in AAA, but they’re not ready quite yet. I think the Red Sox are looking to offload one of their outfielders here in this scenario, and I think Yoshida just makes the most sense for the Royals. I would love to say Jarren Duran, but I don’t think the Royals have enough capital to get that done. With Yoshida I feel as if they can. He’s owed $18.6 million the next three years through his age 33 season, which is the main concern I’m sure. But if Boston is looking to get rid of him, I bet they’d be willing to eat a good amount of money to get stuff back in return. Yoshida is kind of a defensive liability or more of a DH, which could scare the Royals off a bit. But if he is able to play left field for you, his offensive numbers could balloon at Kauffman. Not going to hit for a bunch of power, but in a down year for him, he hit .280 with a .349 OBP in 108 games. He also is only going into his 3rd year in the MLB, he is still polishing his game. I just think he has a real chance to be a perfect hitter for the Royals. Once he’s going well, it will be hard to stop him. 

Ah yes. Time now to talk about long time trade target, Taylor Ward. Ward has been rumored to be going to the Royals since the trade deadline, and there are actually many reports of the Royals continuing to check in on him. Although I don’t think this one is impossible, I do believe that for the umpteenth year in a row, the Angels have decided that they’re going to be competitive. So, I imagine that they don’t move Ward since he is one of their only legitimate outfielders, but nothing is impossible. Ward had a solid start to the season, but kind of dropped off in performance down the stretch, but it’s the Angels so can you really blame him? He finished with 25 HRs, a .323 OBP and a .748 OPS. Which for me, I personally would like to get at least an .800 OPS if we’re going to be giving up a lot in a trade for him. But he does give you a better bat to put in the lineup, so I wouldn’t be upset by it. I just wish that it would’ve been done a half a year ago. If you can get him for nothing, by all means, but I think the Angels are probably going to hold onto him. But who knows we might be talking about him again once the trade deadline comes along. 

The last two options I want to at least discuss here are Nolan Jones & J.J. Bleday. I pair them together only because I feel like they’re a bit similar from a fit perspective, and ideally you would want a righty to pair with MJ, but these two guys are fantastic options to add to the mix. Another reason why they’re similar is: I don’t think their teams give them up. Nolan Jones had a tough 2024 season and really couldn’t put it together. But he did have a 20/20 season in ‘23, and the Rockies have a nice young core and  they’re starting to put it together. I imagine Jones won’t be given-up on, after one tough season. I have always loved Jones since his debut against the Royals while he was with Cleveland. If you are able to reclaim some of that magic he had from 2023, and have another 20/20 man in your lineup, that could turn this lineup around. You also have to think that this person you trade for is probably going to take the place of Renfroe whenever that time is. Because I don’t know about you, but if I’m able to field the grass with MJ Melendez, Nolan Jones, and Kyle Isbel/Joey Wiemer, I like those odds. 

As for Bleday, the A’s have been spending some money, giving a huge deal to Luis Severino. So I don’t think the A’s are going to give up any young controllable talent. But if they would, Bleday would be at or near the top of my list (I’d love Lawrence Butler, but given his ridiculous ‘24, I’d bet not). While Bleday only did have a .242 average and a .324 OBP, he did have 43 doubles along with 20 homers. So this man is destined to break out in some way here soon. Whether than be with the A’s or someone else. I think the price on both of these guys will be more than the Royals are willing to give up. But the A’s and Royals made the trade for Lucas Erceg last year, so there already is some familiarity there. 

Free Agent Starter Market:

To start these are all realistic possibilities for the Royals remember, so as much as I would love to put Roki Sasaki in this motley crew, I don’t think we’re going to be able to convince him that the Royals are the Dodgers. That being said, no big name starters, just forth or fifth starters to replace Brady Singer and potentially create some depth. Remember, Kyle Wright will be a rotation option for you in 2025.

The return of Michael Lorenzen is definitely something that is at the forefront of my mind. If the Royals are able to get him for a one-two year deal somewhere in the $5-7 million AAV territory, you take that everyday. Lorenzen in his limited time with Royals was very good, and really provided the Royals with a solid fifth starter down the postseason stretch. With a 1.57 ERA in 6 starts, he provided them with a solid rotation top to bottom. They still need some more depth, so I would look for the Royals to try to resign him first. Another name that pops out to me on the market is Andrew Heaney. He’s not the sexiest pick, but he has some legitimate experience on great teams, around great clubhouses, and he is a lefty. Something our rotation wouldn’t be opposed to at the moment. He’s had an ERA in the low fours the past two seasons which doesn’t sound great. But he does have 145+ innings pitched the last two years and helped lead that ‘23 Rangers team to a world title. He won’t blow you away, but you do need to replace 170 innings from Brady Singer, and he does that for you. Continuing the Royals obsession with older National League starters from the past, Martin Perez is another lefty option that could work for the Royals here. His half year in Pittsburgh was forgettable, but he got traded to the Padres at the deadline and proceeded to have a 3.46 ERA in ten starts amounting to 52.0 innings pitched. A guaranteed five innings every time? I mean, I’ll take that. Depth, that’s what most of these guys will provide. Cal Quantrill is the next target that I would have for the Royals. He had a tough year in Colorado this year, but what pitcher doesn’t am I right? The invisible string here is Brian Sweeney spending time with Quantrill while they were in Cleveland together. He’s 30 years old, but you could see this as a reclamation project for the team. His 4.98 ERA and National League leading 69 walks allowed definitely are not fun. But where’s the fun in a pitcher that’s perfect and doesn’t have to change anything. I’m sure Sweeney already has some solid faith in him. If he can go out there in a rotation where he has no pressure I’m sure he would prefer that over getting banished to Colorado. The last name I’d like to highlight here is Mike Soroka. He is a bit of a weird case here. He’s a hybrid starter/reliever, which usually means you were bad at one. And Soroka was bad as a starter for the White Sox last year and actually never won a decision, but coming out of the pen he had an ERA of 2.75 in 16 appearances. It’s not his fault he was condemned to the 2024 Chicago White Sox, and therefore we shouldn’t fault him for him not being great. But he could be a huge addition for depth on this team just because he could do anything he’s asked. And who knows, the guy used to be a starter with Kyle Wright in Atlanta. Maybe we have a reunion. 

Free Agent Reliever Market

To start, a great addition to this bullpen would be Paul Sewald. He was on fire with the Mariners in ‘23 when he got traded over to the Diamondbacks he seemed to get even better. In 2024, he struggled. His strikeout rate really went down. In years past he would reach 80 strikeouts, and this past year he only had 43 in 42 games. Not good, but you would potentially get him on a bit of a cheaper deal, put him in this bullpen with no stress, and he’s got the experience. You wouldn’t need to worry about that. Jordan Romano was non-tendered by the Blue Jays after a disappointing ‘24 where he only appeared in 15 games and was quite bad with an ERA in the 6s. He’s worth taking a chance on though, for he was one of the best bullpen arms in the games before this past season. In ‘22 and ‘23 he pitched in more than 59 games and had an ERA below 2.90 in each of those years. He is a bit off the path, but you could capitalize on the market potentially not valuing him as much. Ryne Stanek and Jalen Beeks are two pieces that I would take in a heartbeat. Stanek is local kid, and I had him on my list like this last year. I think he brings a fiery pedigree that is unmatched. And even though he struggles, teams continue to put him in with the game on the line. He throws gas out of the pen, averaging 98 mph on his fastball, and that is something that this Royals team needs. Jalen Beeks is a quality lefty that eats up a lot of innings. He pitched 70 innings last year, and although his numbers aren’t amazing, his analytics show one stand out thing to me. The average exit velocity hit off of Beeks is 87.2 mph. Good for 87th percentile in that category. Especially for a team like the Royals in a park like Kauffman Stadium. The last one is one near and dear to all of us, and that is Scott Barlow. Scotty-Boy would be a welcome addition back to Kansas City I imagine. After getting traded midseason in 2023 to the Padres, they flipped him to the evil empire, Cleveland, last winter. Where Barlow was very solid at the beginning of the year as part of that incredible Guardians bullpen. But as time went on, he just wasn’t as solid, and blew a lot of leads. Which is not good I understand, but Barlow also hasn’t looked the same since leaving. And it’s not like he isn’t a part of this new regime, he was here when Matt Quartaro and Co. took over before the 2023 season. I don’t know if he’d be interested in coming back. But I would love to see those locks in Royal blue once again. 

Bonus Reliever Trade Candidate: 

Camilo Doval. That’s it. That’s the tweet. I realize that it is highly unlikely. But the Giants fireballer had a rough 2024 season, and apparently there were many calls to the Giants about his availability according to MLB Trade Rumors. Doval had his first down year in the majors last year, with 4.88 ERA and lost his closer job midway through the season. His ‘22 and ‘23 seasons saw him with a sub three ERA in each season and in 2023 he lead the National League with 60 saves. With the Giants continuing to be contenders and big players on the free agent market, it’s hard to believe they would actually trade him, but if he’s available the Royals should be one of the first teams to re-dial.

Third Baseman Free Agent Market

If you want to read a more expansive look at Alex Bregman, feel free to go HERE. Matt Chabot highlights this potential suitor quite well so I won’t spend a bunch of time on him right now. At the end of the day, I feel like the Royals will be on the wrong side of Scott Boras, once again. I like Bregman and despite what people have said, he is still producing quite well. He would definitely lengthen this Royals lineup, and provide them with a staple next to Bobby Witt Jr. for the immediate future. But, he is not worth the $300 mil+ that the Boras agency will be trying to get. The Royals have never been on the side of a bidding war for top tier free agents, so I don’t imagine that will start with him. There will be a team that’s dumb enough to sign him for way more than he’s worth, and it’s times like this that I like that the Royals don’t overpay for players. *If* they do get something done, I imagine it would be somewhere in the $25-30 mil. range and definitely not the decade long deal that the Boras agency tries to work every time. But will he get what he’s asking for though? Absolutely not. 

Yes I know. I don’t necessarily love the idea of Yoan Moncada being a Royal but he just feels like one of those players the Royals would give a shot to. I think that depends a lot on how Maikel Garcia recovers from his surgery this offseason, and what other moves they make here. But if they’re looking to platoon Maikel with someone, I do think Moncada might be on that short list. A switch hitter, good defender and hits for contact. Doesn’t have the speed he used to, but I truly think the bat isn’t completely lost. He’s going to be an inexpensive target since he has had a few pretty bad years here back to back. I’m really not crazy interested in adding him to this team, but I feel like I would be remiss if I didn’t mention him as a possibility.

Yet another former foe that could platoon with Maikel and be really cheap, all things considered, is Jorge Polanco. He struggled mightily in Seattle last year, barely seeing any playing time because he was hurt, and when he was in the lineup, he didn’t look anything like the player we saw torch us back and forth on the Twins. I think that’s the player that the Royals would be interested in giving a shot to play third occasionally. Do I think there are better options internally? Yes. But when you have more above average guys than not, it makes your team better. Look at the 2024 Royals, there were some pretty bad veterans on that team. Although, they set a precedent and that is very important. I think Polanco can do that, he’s familiar within the division, and he murders at Kauffman Stadium. 

Third Baseman Trade Market:

All right, get ready for another dream. Picture it with me. Nolan Arenado in a Royals uniform, I know it gave me chills as well. I was getting really excited about the possibility of this one, until there was a report a couple days ago saying that Nolan Arenado’s trade market is pretty small. Well, that is because he has a no-trade clause in his contract and there are only a few teams that he is willing to go to. There is nothing saying that the Royals aren’t on that list, but I imagine that they aren’t. Arenado has been playing in the midwest for his whole career, and I’m guessing he would like to go to a big city for the end of his career. I have nothing confirming or denying that, just a thought. But! If the Royals are on that list, Arenado would bring way more than just a bat to the lineup that hit .272 and 16 HRs last year. He brings the mentality to the clubhouse that the Kansas City Royals aren’t messing around anymore. That this is a destination, and superstars want to come play with Bobby Witt Jr. and the boys. I think if you’re the Royals, you do just about anything it takes to try and get this guy. And it might not be possible, he could tell the Royals to go kick rocks. But if you propose a legitimate plan to him, take a good amount of money owed, and pitch to him playing with one of the best young teams in all of baseball. I think you could convince him. Because I think a left side of the infield with Bobby Witt Jr and Nolan Arenado would scare just about anyone who comes into town.

Now, let’s move onto another Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon. McMahon is another one that is a bit of a stretch but for other reasons. He is owed about $48 million the next three years, so he’s locked in.You could probably get them to eat some of the money as well. He once again checks a lot of Royal boxes, solid defender, line-to-line power, walks a good amount, he just strikes out a bit too much. He has played his whole career at Coors Field which is something to at least think about. The Coors effect is occasionally real, and that would be my only fear with him. He also doesn’t hit for average the best with a career average of .242, but he is also 29 and can keep developing. Wouldn’t be the first time a player moved to a new team and they refined one of his skills. I think he would be a welcome addition at third and adds another left handed bat to this lineup. And who knows, not being the star and lower in the batting order might cause him to relax and he could even be a better hitter.

Last trade target at third base for me is Brett Baty. I honestly think that this is one of the least likely scenarios but it does interest the hell out of me. Baty has not been able to figure it out at the major league level and that is my main concern. The Royals already have a few pieces that need to improve to keep their spots on the roster, and if Baty is yet another one of those, that would not be good. The potential is there though, as a first round pick and former top 100 prospect, the Royals have shown that they’re interested in adding those guys this offseason. It would definitely be pretty unique to have Baty/Garcia platooning at third. But if you could unlock both of their potentials by taking stress off them? That is an avenue to at least look down.  If you’re able to trade him for a bucket of balls, I would take him in a second. 

Bench Options

Look, I don’t necessarily think that Tommy Pham is going to be at the top of the list. But he could totally be someone that the Royals look to as a backup option if they can’t get some more depth that they’d want. Say what you want, but there could be way worse players than Tommy Pham batting 7-8-9 for you. A reunion with Nicky Lopez would be a sight for sore eyes in my opinion. Although I don’t think it will be the direction they go, given the way Nicky was proverbially pushed out the door. But he does give this team some value playing all the infield spots. With there already being a logjam with Massey, India, and Garcia in the infield, Nicky might not be needed but he would be that Adam Frazier type utility player. 

Brandon Drury is a peculiar case, going to Anaheim with the Angels did not work out the way he wanted. Though you could make the case that’s the same for everyone, he was rushed in as part of the reinforcements for Ohtani and Trout that just didn’t end up working out. While his 2022-2023 seasons were pretty solid to be honest, 2024 was a disaster for Drury. Making it his worst season of his career, batting .169 and showing no power in 97 games, which is quite the contrary for him. I, by no means, think that he will fix all the Royals problems, but he is a great candidate to buy low on a guy and let him and Maikel figure it out over at third. Worst case? You just assure yourself that Maikel is the better option and he starts more anyway. Best case? Drury has a bit of a redemption season and is able to utilize all the space in the gaps and down the lines at Kauffman Stadium. In two of his last three seasons, he has hit 30 doubles, and that would be a welcome addition to this lineup. 

Dylan Carlson is one of the more intriguing non-tender candidates, as he is one of the former top prospects in the Cardinals system, and was a finalist in Rookie of the Year voting in 2021. He’s struggled with injuries the past few seasons, which lead to the Cardinals trading him to the Rays in 2024. You could make the case to stay away since the Rays are the team that non-tendered him, but I believe there’s still something in there. Maybe not as an everyday guy anymore, or rather can’t be relied upon for that, but he still brings tools to the table. He’s a switch hitter and plays both corner outfield positions, if you are able to get him for something cheap, you might be able to unlock that former Rookie of the Year player people thought he was. In his scenario, I don’t think the Royals would prefer him over MJ Melendez or Joey Wiemer, so he might not be an option. But he peaks my interest as someone who is a small signing that could end up being a boom.

Bench Bonus, Trade Candidate*

One player that stands out to me as someone I think the Royals should consider is Ezequiel Duran. Unsure if the Rangers will move on from him, but he did have a pretty disappointing 2024, but who on the Rangers didn’t? And very important to note that the Royals will *probably* not trade capital for a bench bat, but at the right price, who knows. Now here’s the thing, I don’t think he is the end all be all at third base, this guy plays everywhere. Which has shown to be a trait that Matt Quatraro and his coaching staff have valued this past season. He could be the swiss army knife that this team really could need. In his career, he has games played at every infield and outfield position and not just here and there. He was a consistent utility player for the Rangers during their World Series run and ’24, and you are a better team with someone like Duran on your roster. During that ’23 season he hit .272 with 38 extra base hits and a .324 on-base percentage. He does strike out a lot though, which is the “buyer beware” with him. Another would be his abysmal 2024 season. His stellar defense and flexibility really does ring out as someone that the Royals would target.  He is only 25, which could be the reason why the Rangers don’t move off from him yet, but if they’re trying to revamp that roster, I think we would love to take Duran off their hands.

One more thing to mention about the bench, there was a report earlier in the offseason of the Royals basically looking for a younger version of Garrett Hampson. Which I would say in response: you already have him in your system, and it’s Javier Vaz. If he is not moved as part of a deal to get a bat*, Javier Vaz could easily take that utility spot. He was at Vanderbilt before being drafted by the Royals and got all the way to the AAA level in 2024. He’s 24, and what else does he have to show? He’ll be invited in the spring, and if he makes a good impression like he did last year, I could see him nabbing a spot just because he’s the type of player the Royals love. Can play on the dirt and in the outfield, gets on base, and doesn’t strike out. He is the epitome of what the Royals are looking for to improve the lineup. 

As we wrap it up, I’d say that Jake McCarthy, Nolan Jones, and Adolis Garcia would probably be my picks. With Masataka Yoshida and Brett Baty being my picks to watch. No matter if the Royals are interested, I feel like those two names will be moved sometime before spring.. J.J Bleday is also fun, but I don’t think he’s moved. At the end of the day, I feel like the Royals will make two trades to acquire talent, and try to avoid the market. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Royals were talking about spending, Juan Soto’s contract gets finalized and now it’s the trade market. I think this market is about to swell. With prices ballooning as big as they can. While they still can, before the CBA updates soon. Thanks for coming along for the ride. And cheers to Royals baseball.