Could Jake Meyers Be the Royals’ Answer in Center Field? A Potential Fit with Real Upside
The Kansas City Royals’ offseason to-do list hasn’t exactly been a mystery-outfield help remains front and center. While the usual trade targets continue to swirl in the rumor mill, a new name has entered the conversation: Jake Meyers of the Houston Astros.
According to reporting from The Athletic, the Astros are exploring the idea of moving Meyers in exchange for a controllable major-league starting pitcher. That’s opened the door for several teams in need of center field help, including the Royals, to potentially make a move.
So, does Meyers move the needle for Kansas City?
At first glance, he’s not a perfect match. He’s a true center fielder-not a corner outfield bat-and he’s not going to wow you with power.
But the Royals don’t necessarily need a slugger. What they need is balance, and Meyers brings that in a few key ways.
Let’s start with the bat. Meyers quietly put together a solid 2025 campaign, slashing .292 with a .727 OPS, a low 17.9% strikeout rate, and a 107 wRC+. That’s not headline-grabbing production, but it’s steady, contact-driven offense-something Kansas City’s lineup could use more of, especially in the outfield.
And then there’s the handedness factor. With a lefty-heavy outfield group, including Kyle Isbel, adding a right-handed bat like Meyers could offer some much-needed balance.
Isbel, despite his elite glove, struggled at the plate last season (.654 OPS, 79 wRC+), which makes a potential platoon situation worth exploring. Between Meyers and Isbel, the Royals could construct a more complete offensive presence in center field, playing the matchups and maximizing production.
But Meyers isn’t just a bat. He brings value on the basepaths and in the field-two areas where the Royals could stand to improve. He swiped 16 bags in 2025 and posted a 0.4 BsR (Base Running Runs), a modest but positive mark that would’ve helped lift Kansas City’s bottom-tier -4.1 BsR total from last season.
Defensively, Meyers is the real deal in center. He logged 5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), 9 Outs Above Average (OAA), and an FRV (Fielding Run Value) of 8. That’s premium-level defense at a premium position-something you can’t overvalue, especially in spacious Kauffman Stadium.
Now, let’s talk cost. Meyers is projected to earn just $3.5 million in 2026, per MLB Trade Rumors.
That’s a bargain for a player who contributes in all three phases of the game. And with team control still in play, he fits the Royals’ timeline both competitively and financially.
Of course, the Astros aren’t giving him away. They’re reportedly seeking a controllable major-league starter in return, and that’s where things get interesting for Kansas City.
The Royals do have arms that fit that mold-but the question is how much they’re willing to part with. Veterans like Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha would likely command more in return than Meyers, and it’s hard to see Kansas City moving any of them for a deal like this. Same goes for Noah Cameron, who showed Rookie of the Year potential and isn’t someone the Royals would likely trade after his breakout season.
That said, the Royals’ depth doesn’t end there. Kris Bubic might be a logical candidate, but with just one year of team control left, he probably doesn’t match Houston’s asking price.
That brings us to younger, pre-arbitration arms like Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. Both pitchers joined the Royals at the trade deadline and made strong impressions down the stretch.
They’re controllable, they’ve got upside, and they could be exactly the kind of under-the-radar assets Houston is targeting.
At the end of the day, the Royals have the pieces to get a deal done if they believe Meyers is the right fit. He may not be the splashiest name on the market, and he’s not the prototypical corner bat they’ve been linked to. But he checks a lot of boxes-right-handed bat, elite defense, solid base running, team control, and a manageable salary.
If Kansas City is serious about upgrading the outfield without breaking the bank or their pitching core, Jake Meyers might be one of the more quietly impactful moves they can make.