With the trade deadline closing in, the Royals are staring at a stretch that could shape the near future of the organization. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco dig into that pressure on this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, and the conversation keeps circling back to the same question: what kind of move, if any, should Kansas City make?
The episode starts with the rough patch at home, including the series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Defensive lapses and a bullpen that still hasn’t found any real stability are front and center, and the hosts also spend time on the coaching staff’s choices and lineup handling. They even draw a comparison to the way the Phillies have managed their own issues.
Injuries remain a major part of the story, and the list keeps growing. Kyle Isbel has dealt with a setback, Vinnie Pasquantino is headed to Omaha, and Maikel Garcia’s status is described as murky. Cole Ragans’ injury also stands out, giving him what the episode calls a trifecta of surgeries that no pitcher wants to collect.
There is at least one bright spot to celebrate. Bobby Witt Jr. and Michael Wacha were named All-Stars, and the hosts give that recognition its due before shifting right back to the deadline discussion. From there, the focus turns to what Kansas City could get back if it chooses to sell.
That leads into a broader look at trade value, including the possibility of moving Lugo and Wacha, a topic the podcast had already touched on before. Salvador Perez also enters the conversation, with his potential trade value, injury concerns, and legacy all part of the discussion.
The episode doesn’t stop there. Jacob and Jeremy break down prospect valuations, FanGraphs future value grades, and the kinds of names the Royals should be targeting in return if they decide to deal established players. They also use the Minnesota Twins’ recent fire sale as a model for what an aggressive deadline approach can look like, then weigh whether Kansas City’s front office has the appetite to follow that path.
In Other News...
Royals Just Made A Move That Says Plenty About This Staff
The Royals have added another arm to the organizational mix, signing right-hander Justin Topa to a minor league contract and sending him to Triple-A Omaha. It is the kind of move that rarely turns heads on its own, but it fits the reality Kansas City is dealing with right now as it tries to keep pitching depth intact.
Injuries have already thinned the staff, and the possibility of more turnover before the deadline only makes that depth more important. Topas path has taken him through Minnesota and Seattle before this latest stop, and the Royals are giving themselves another experienced option to lean on if the pitching picture keeps shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Former Royals Arm Is Suddenly Raising A Familiar Question Again
Foster Griffins name is back in circulation for all the right reasons, and for Royals fans, it comes with a familiar kind of curiosity. The former Kansas City left-hander has put together a steadier run lately, showing the sort of consistency that can make a pitcher interesting again after a few uneven stretches, even if the control still leaves something to clean up.
Griffins recent work has also put him on the radar as a possible trade piece for Toronto, which is still weighing how aggressive it wants to be on the pitching market. He spent the last few seasons in Japan before signing a one-year deal with the Nationals, and that path has only added to the sense that he could be one of those arms who quietly re-enters the conversation when contenders start looking for depth. [Read more 🡒]