The Royals may be sitting near the bottom of the American League, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to start handing out discounts.
Kansas City has been linked to plenty of trade speculation because of its record, and pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha naturally fit the profile of veterans contenders would love to add. Both are right-handers who could help teams chasing a playoff spot. Still, the Royals appear to be drawing a hard line.
“The Royals, according to people briefed on their plans, are telling clubs they will listen on Lugo and Wacha, but their asks will be massive,” The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote on Thursday.
That stance lines up with how the Royals view their roster. They may not be built to win right now, but they also don’t sound interested in tearing the whole thing down.
“A year ago, the Royals knew Carter Jensen was nearly ready for the majors, making (Freddy) Fermin expendable," Rosenthal writes. "They have no such potential replacements for Lugo and Wacha. And with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and third baseman Maikel Garcia signed long-term, they do not plan to rebuild.”
Lugo’s rough season makes him less of an obvious trade chip anyway, and Kansas City may be better served simply banking on a turnaround from him.
Wacha is the more attractive name, and the kind of arm that could bring back a meaningful haul. If the Royals were to move him, they’d likely want young pitching in return - someone with a chance to eventually step into the same kind of role.
“Would a team meet the Royals’ desire for multiple top prospects to acquire him?” Rosenthal wonders, then concludes, “Seems doubtful.”
So while other last-place clubs may be gearing up for an active deadline, Kansas City could wind up staying quieter than expected. The Royals seem willing to listen. They just don’t sound eager to move.
In Other News...
Royals Face Painful Deadline Call On Salvador Perez And Lucas Erceg
As the trade deadline approaches, the Royals are sorting through the usual mix of expiring deals, bigger contracts and the hard part of any sell-or-hold decision: protecting the young core that is supposed to define the next stage of the franchise. The temptation to turn veterans into future value is always there, but Kansas Citys most meaningful pieces are the ones it should be least eager to move.
Salvador Perez sits at the center of that conversation because of what he still means to the organization, even as injuries and uneven production have made this a tougher season at the plate. Lucas Erceg is a different kind of call, with his struggles this year raising the question of whether the Royals should cash in on a reliever with value elsewhere or keep him in place and trust the track record to reassert itself in Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Cannot Afford To Wait On This Core Decision Much Longer
The Cardinals just handed rookie JJ Wetherholt an eight-year extension, a reminder of how quickly a club can lock in a young core piece when it believes the player is ready. For the Royals, that kind of decision is starting to hover over a few of their own young names, especially catcher Carter Jensen, whose rise has turned him from a prospect to a real part of the conversation about the next wave in Kansas City.
Jensens recent work has made the case louder, and the Royals also have to sort through other possible long-term fits in Jac Caglianone and Noah Cameron. Caglianones bat still comes with questions, while Camerons place in the rotation is complicated by an uneven season, but the larger issue is timing: if Kansas City believes any of these players are part of the foundation, waiting too long could make the price only go up. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Are Sending A Clear Message About This Deadline
A recent survey made the mood around Kansas Citys deadline plans pretty clear: Royals fans are not looking for a half-step. The overwhelming view is that the club should be active, with most respondents wanting at least three players moved and a sizable chunk pushing for even more turnover as the deadline approaches.
The bullpen is where that pressure feels loudest, because it has become the easiest place to imagine a reset. Michael Wacha has also been part of the conversation, adding another layer to a deadline that could shape how aggressively the Royals try to reshape the roster, and how much they are willing to listen if offers start coming in for veterans. [Read more 🡒]