The Royals have a chance to pay attention to the chatter coming out of the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, and one of the more interesting names on the board is Brandon Marsh.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies are open to shaking up their roster and have put both Trey Turner and Marsh on the trade block. For Kansas City, that second name matters. The Royals need outfield help badly, and Marsh could fit the bill as a change-of-scenery target.
That idea comes with some baggage, though. Marsh was an All-Star in 2026, but his production has trended the wrong way for four straight seasons in Philadelphia.
His bWAR dropped from 3.4 in 2023 to 3.0 in 2024, then to 1.6 in 2025, and finally to 0.4 this season. He also turned in his lowest OPS (.713) and WRC+ (90) since 2022.
Even with the downturn, Marsh still put together a useful line in 2026. The left-handed hitter slashed .260/.304/.408, hit 20 doubles, 18 home runs and drove in 62 runs. He also chipped in 11 stolen bases.
The fit in Kansas City is obvious on paper. Marsh would give the Royals an everyday outfield option, even if he isn’t the kind of bat you build the middle of the order around. He’s never been a huge power source, but he did post an OPS in the 800s in 2023 and in the high 700s in 2025.
Defensively, he has been used mostly in left field, though he split time between left and center in 2024 and 2025. His 2026 season included a -5 Fielding Run Value, his first year finishing in the negatives.
There’s also a contract wrinkle. Marsh, a Georgia native, will be 29 for all of 2027 and is set to hit free agency after that season.
That could complicate any deal, especially with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reporting that teams are hesitant to give up prospects for players with only one year left before free agency because of the looming lockout. Morosi said clubs would rather deal for another player who is also headed for free agency after next season.
Kansas City doesn’t currently have a player in the final year of arbitration who could be used in that kind of swap, which means the Royals would either need to avoid Marsh or be willing to part with prospects.
The Royals still need real upgrades in the outfield, and after multiple offseasons of bargain hunting, they’re two years removed from the playoffs. Marsh could be the kind of trade target that gives them a legitimate boost without requiring a blockbuster.
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