The Royals are heading toward seller mode at the deadline, but this doesn’t look like the kind of teardown where Kansas City ships out everyone with value and starts over. Anne Rogers of MLB.com reported last week that the club has its eyes on 2027 and “would like to acquire talent that’s ready or near-ready for the major leagues,” which points to a more selective approach.
That’s where Michael Wacha comes in. Earlier this month, reports suggested the Royals may be hesitant to move Wacha or Seth Lugo unless the return is “massive.” Jim Bowden may have offered exactly the kind of package that could make Kansas City listen.
In his latest mock trades ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, Bowden matched the Royals with the Cubs and sent Wacha to Chicago for Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcántara.
Shaw is the more obvious fit. ESPN’s Jeff Passan already connected him to Kansas City in June, and it’s easy to see why.
The Royals have long valued versatility, have had recurring needs at second base and in the outfield, and have dealt with plenty of injuries along the way. Shaw could step into that kind of environment and get the steady playing time that hasn’t always been available in Chicago.
He also comes with five more years of control, which matters.
His rookie season wasn’t especially loud, as he posted a 93 wRC+, but 2026 has looked more encouraging in a smaller role. Through 56 games, the 24-year-old is hitting .246 with a .737 OPS, 20 RBI, a sub-20% K-rate and a 105 wRC+. For Kansas City, that profile would immediately give them another option at second base behind Michael Massey, a possible left-field answer for Isaac Collins and, at the very least, a clear upgrade over depth pieces like Tyler Tolbert or Josh Rojas.
Alcántara is the other piece, and the upside is still there. He was a Top 10 prospect in the Cubs’ system just a season ago, and he’s putting together a strong run in Triple-A again. In 55 games with Iowa, the 24-year-old has 17 homers, 52 RBI, a .936 OPS and a 131 wRC+.
The issue has been getting anything going in the majors. Alcántara has only 31 big-league games and 41 plate appearances across three seasons, and he’s managed just a combined 43 wRC+.
Still, the tools are real, and it looks more like a player who needs a runway than one who has run out of time. On a contending Cubs club, that runway has been hard to find.
Kansas City has shown a willingness to let players work through things, with Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Michael Massey standing as examples. Alcántara would fit that mold if the Royals believe a change of scenery can help him tap into the talent that made him such a notable prospect in the first place.
As for Wacha, the case for moving him is pretty straightforward. He’s been one of the most reliable arms in a depleted Royals rotation since arriving in 2024, and he’s kept his ERA under 4.00 each year in Kansas City, extending the run he started in 2022 with the Red Sox. There’s value in keeping that kind of stability around for 2027.
But there’s also a strong argument that this is the peak moment to deal him. Wacha made his first All-Star team in 11 years this season and has a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and .241 BAA, along with the second-most quality starts in the American League with 12. He’s 35, and while he’s under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, the Royals are trying to get better while Bobby Witt Jr. is locked in through 2030.
A veteran starter in his mid-3.00s who’s already on the far side of 35 may help a contender, but he doesn’t look like the kind of piece that changes Kansas City’s long-term picture. If a deal like Bowden’s is on the table, the Royals would have a hard time justifying saying no.
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