The Royals may still have a rough first half hanging around their necks, but the start of the second half has looked a whole lot more alive. Kansas City split a four-game set with the Tigers after Sunday’s 5-4 win, and the result gave the club another sign that it’s playing better baseball right now than its overall record suggests.
A big part of that conversation has been the bullpen, and Steven Cruz was right at the center of it after Sunday. Cruz has been working through a rocky opening stretch, but he’s started to settle down on the mound. After he escaped a ninth-inning jam, Joel Penfield and Kevin O'Brien said Kansas City may be getting closer to trusting him in more traditional save spots.
The bullpen picture also ties directly into the trade deadline, where Penfield and O'Brien pointed to John Schreiber as the most likely reliever to move because he’s a rental. Daniel Lynch IV and Alex Lange came up as other possible trade candidates as well.
Michael Massey was another major topic after his go-ahead, two-run homer off a left-handed pitcher on Sunday. He’s been on a tear lately and has become a real factor in the Royals’ lineup. Penfield and O'Brien discussed whether the way he’s playing at the plate and holding up defensively could make him more appealing on the trade market, while also noting that he could still fit into Kansas City’s plans for 2027.
There was also plenty of praise for manager Matt Quatraro and the way he handled things in-game. Even with Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino unavailable, the Royals kept battling, and that stood out to the hosts.
Salvador Perez’s 318th career home run was another huge piece of the conversation. The blast gave him the new franchise record, and Penfield and O'Brien made clear how significant that is, especially with Perez having spent his entire career in Kansas City. They called him one of the most important figures in franchise history.
From there, the discussion moved to Perez’s Hall of Fame case, with the hosts breaking down his resume and how strong the argument for induction looks.
Looking further ahead, they also tossed out two names who could one day chase Perez’s home run mark: Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone.
Nick Loftin got his share of attention too after hitting .364 on the week and coming through in clutch moments. If that kind of production keeps up, the hosts believe he’s earned a bigger role.
All of it was part of the latest KC Sports Network discussion on a Royals team that, at least for now, is showing some real signs of life.
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Royals Fans May Not Like Where This Lane Thomas Buzz Is Going
Lane Thomas has been a useful piece for Kansas City since arriving, giving the Royals another right-handed bat and some real pop in the middle of the season. In 92 games, he has supplied 10 home runs, which is the kind of production that can make him appealing to a contender looking for a lineup upgrade without having to chase a bigger name.
Now the buzz around him is drifting into uncomfortable territory for Royals fans, because Cleveland is said to be exploring a move that would bring Thomas back into the fold. The fit is obvious on paper, especially for a Guardians club that could use another right-handed option in the outfield or at designated hitter, but the idea also comes with a little extra sting after Thomas chose Kansas City over Cleveland last winter. [Read more 🡒]
Royals May Finally Have The Outfield Answer Fans Wanted
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The 2022 first-rounder has been one of the brighter spots in the organization lately, enough to remind the Royals why they invested in him in the first place. If Kansas City does create an opening in the outfield, the question becomes less about whether Cross has earned attention and more about how quickly the club is willing to test him against major league pitching. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fire Sale Could Suddenly Change Everything For These Players
The Royals deadline plans are starting to feel like they could reshape more than just the roster at the margins. Kansas City is widely expected to sell after a slow start, and if that happens, the ripple effects would reach beyond the players who are moved out. It would also open the door for others on the roster to take on bigger jobs, especially players who have already shown signs of settling in over the past month or so.
Isaac Collins is one of the clearest examples, with his recent improvement giving him a case to climb higher in the lineup if the front office starts dealing from the major league group. Steven Cruz is in a similar spot on the pitching side, where a stronger stretch lately has made him look more capable of handling a larger bullpen role. If Kansas City does turn into a full deadline sell-off, the names leaving town could matter almost as much as the ones left behind. [Read more 🡒]