The Royals have been linked to both bullpen and outfield help in recent weeks. General manager J.J. Picollo has gone so far as to publicly acknowledge a desire to improve in both areas in advance of next month’s trade deadline. At the moment, however, it seems the two needs are not viewed as equally necessary. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Kansas City is currently prioritizing relief help over its search for additional outfield talent.
Royals relievers currently rank 21st in the majors with a 4.37 earned run average but sit last in baseball with a well below-average 17.7% strikeout rate from their bullpen. Kansas City’s 10% walk rate from the ’pen is also the seventh-worst mark in MLB, and their 93.6 mph average fastball this season is tied for 28th overall. Based on Picollo’s prior comments in an appearance on Jayson Stark’s podcast, adding the type of power arm they’re lacking could be of particular interest (though that’s just my own inference/speculation, to be clear). “I’ve talked in the past about strikeouts,” Picollo said at the time. “We’re more of a matchup bullpen without necessarily the big power.”
Things have been particularly dicey of late. As the Royals have fallen in the AL Central standings in the midst of a 3-11 swoon, their bullpen has been a key culprit. Kansas City relievers are lugging an ugly 5.31 ERA over the past 14 days while punching out just 15.7% of their opponents and surrendering a woeful 1.99 homers per nine innings pitched (far and away the highest mark in the sport, leading 29th-ranked San Diego’s 1.75 HR/9 in that span).
The Royals had hoped that offseason additions Chris Stratton and Will Smith would join righty James McArthur, who was one of MLB’s most dominant relievers over the final few weeks of the 2023 season, in bolstering the 2024 bullpen. That hasn’t panned out.
Smith has pitched better of late, helping to nudge his ERA just under 5.00, but he’s been working in lower-leverage spots since late April. It’s a similar story with Stratton, who began the year working the seventh and eighth innings with regularity before dropping to the fifth, sixth and seventh amid a handful of rough meltdowns. He’s recently been throwing well and returned to some setup work, however. McArthur has rattled off four straight scoreless outings but still has a 6.35 ERA dating back to May 1 and a 4.70 earned run average overall.
With that group struggling, Kansas City has been linked to a handful of relievers known to be available — Chicago’s Michael Kopech and Miami’s Tanner Scott among them. They’re also tinkering with some in-house options in an effort to see if they can upgrade the ’pen internally. Starter Kris Bubic is on a rehab assignment working his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery but will work in a relief capacity once he completes is rehab window.
It’s still early in trade season, although that doesn’t rule out a deal coming together. The Padres already acquired Luis Arraez back in early May, clearly illustrating the Marlins’ willingness to sell at any point. We’re also coming up on the one-year anniversary (June 30) of the Royals themselves trading Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers in a deal that netted them current top starter Cole Ragans.
While the Royals’ more immediate priority may be adding a reliever (or multiple relievers), it bears repeating that Picollo has been candid about his desire to add a bat — ideally one that can handle both the infield and the outfield. A left-handed bat, specifically, seems prudent for the righty-heavy Royals. Kansas City’s outfield, led by the trio of MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe, has been the least productive unit in baseball this season. In addition to placing Renfroe on the injured list, the Royals just yesterday optioned struggling corner outfielder/DH Nelson Velazquez to Triple-A Omaha.
A trade for an outfielder feels almost inevitable, and adding one who’s controlled beyond the current season would be particularly helpful. As I explored here in greater depth last month, the Royals have struggled immensely to develop outfielders internally; they’ve received little to no production from homegrown outfielders since the departures of now-retired former All-Stars Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon.
And lorenzo cain was developed by the brewers—he’d already played in the majors before the royals acquired him
Ricardo Rincon is not available.
(Slowly closes fist in victory)
Whatever I’d rather have venafro for Michaelson, anderson, whatever.
KC (6-1) and Minn (7-0) similarly feasted on WSox early. Both +1 over .500 vs everyone else.
They each get 6 more against the worst mlb club, but someone better step it up to hold off Astros and AL East teams from grabbing the wildcards.
Still at the same time anyone can lose to the white sox
WSox are on pace for 43-119, which would tie ’03 Tigers for worst 162gm record in mlb history……before likely trade of effective Fedde and possibly Crochet (if someone blows them away with an offer).
The good news is that the Tigers made the World Series 3 years after their 43-119 season
…and then lost embarrassingly in just 5 games to a team with a regular season record of 83-78.
@cwsOverhaul The Mets went 40-120 in a 162-game season in 1962. They just didn’t get around to making up two of their games, and if they had, they still would’ve lost at least 120 games.
They were an expansion team, though…
Good point. Expansion team pardon let’s say for competitive shortcomings not of its own doing.
About a month ago when the Royals were playing better and the Cardinals were much worse I suggested swapping Helsley and McArthur and numerous Royals fans said they wouldn’t do that. Thankfully it’s a non issue at this point the Cardinals are unlikely to be sellers and the Royals might not be a contender anymore.
I don’t know why the Royals expected Stratton to be a late inning reliever in the first place, seeing as the guy has never posted an ERA below 3.60 in his career.
On the one hand, it’s Ken Rosenthal
On the other hand, there’s nothing in the Royals track record that suggests they wouldn’t do something dumb like prioritize relief pitching over OF help right now
Tough to judge
I’ve always had a gripe about how he always wears a bow tie during nationally televised games
Does he think he’s in a 1920s gala?
Clearly you don’t understand the significance of the bow ties.
“In addition to placing Renfroe on the injured list“
Um, he’s active and hit a HR last night