As the Kansas City Royals find themselves at 34-48, the question of whether to buy or sell at the trade deadline looms large. With the final AL Wild Card spot still technically within reach, even for the last-place Royals and Los Angeles Angels, the decision isn't as straightforward as it might seem.
But with a crowd of teams ahead of them, the Royals' postseason hopes feel like a long shot. Selling seems like the logical route, yet the trade market isn't looking as promising as it once did for some of their key players.
Let's dive into the three players who might be complicating the Royals' trade strategy.
Seth Lugo's June Struggles
Seth Lugo, despite a relatively decent start to the season, has hit a rough patch in June. A scary injury from a comebacker off the head didn't help his momentum, and his recent outings have been less than stellar.
In four starts this month, Lugo's posted a 6.52 ERA and a 7.29 FIP, with his most recent game in Tampa Bay resulting in seven earned runs. This isn't the performance you hope for from a pitcher who was a Cy Young contender just two years ago.
At 36, with a guaranteed $21.5 million for 2027, and a rising ERA now over 4.00, Lugo's appeal to potential suitors might be waning. His postseason experience and past accolades could still draw interest, but the Royals might not get the return they were hoping for if his current trend continues.
Matt Strahm's Disappointing Return
Returning for a second stint with the Royals, Matt Strahm hasn't lived up to the expectations set during his All-Star days with the Phillies. On an expiring contract, Strahm was supposed to bolster the bullpen and help Kansas City contend. However, with the team far from contention, his trade value is in question.
Strahm's numbers this season-5.96 ERA, 7.00 FIP, and 1.36 WHIP over 25.2 innings-are far from the elite bullpen arm the Royals hoped for. His status as a high-profile left-handed reliever might still attract some attention, but his underperformance and impending free agency don't bode well for a significant trade return.
Starling Marte's Waning Impact
Starling Marte was a late addition to the Royals' roster, bringing with him a history of power and speed. However, his recent performance has been underwhelming. Since late May, Marte has been slashing .216/.286/.324 with a 68 wRC+ in 42 plate appearances, a far cry from his All-Star days.
Now 37, Marte's strikeout rate is over 25%, and his advanced metrics are below average. With an expiring contract, his value as a trade asset is diminishing, despite earlier expectations of him being a top trade candidate.
In summary, the Royals' path forward at the trade deadline is complicated by the struggles of these three players. While they still have assets that could be moved, the returns might not be as lucrative as once hoped. The Royals will need to navigate these challenges wisely as they look to retool for the future.
In Other News...
Royals Fans Are Asking The Same Painful Mitch Spence Question
Mitch Spences stay with the Royals had been hanging by a thread for a while, and the latest roster move only underscored how little margin for error he had left. Kansas City kept the right-hander around through a stretch of injuries in the pitching staff and a lack of cleaner options, but his outings kept putting the club in an impossible spot whenever it needed innings.
On Saturday, after the White Sox game, the Royals finally made the adjustment fans had been expecting, sending Spence back to Triple-A Omaha. In his place, Kansas City recalled right-hander Eric Cerantola, giving the bullpen a fresh arm and leaving the bigger question still open: whether Spence can find enough consistency in Omaha to force his way back into the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Hit With Another Lineup Twist Before Crucial White Sox Matchup
The Royals come into this one trying to stop the slide after dropping four straight, a skid that has turned a hot stretch into a rough reminder of how quickly a season can tilt. Kansas City has scored just seven runs while giving up 42 during that stretch, and the matchup with Chicago has only added to the concern, with the Royals sitting 2-7 against the White Sox this season and having lost the last six meetings.
Kansas City will try to reset behind Luinder Avila on the mound, while Bobby Witt Jr. is back at shortstop as the lineup continues to shift around him. Across the diamond, Chicago has Anthony Kay lined up for the start, another left-handed look for a Royals offense that has already seen plenty of the AL Central leaders and still has to find a way to make this one feel different. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Finally Got The White Sox Win Fans Desperately Needed
A night that had begun to feel like more of the same finally tilted Kansas Citys way, as the Royals edged the White Sox 5-4 and found a much-needed answer after a rough stretch. The result brought a brief reset to a club that had been searching for a way to stop the slide, and it came with a few encouraging individual notes mixed into the relief of simply getting back in the win column.
Lane Thomas kept his bat humming by extending his hit streak to 19 games, while Starling Marte added another small but notable line to the box score with his first stolen base of the season. Steven Cruz picked up the win, and Alex Lange finished it off for his seventh save, leaving the Royals with a victory they could use for both the standings and the mood in the clubhouse. [Read more 🡒]