The Royals already made one move to improve the offense, acquiring Jonathan India from the Reds two weeks ago. India will hit at the top of the lineup. Kansas City is also on the hunt for a middle-of-the-order bat, write Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.
As with India, it seems a potential acquisition will come via trade. The Athletic writes that the Royals are likelier to acquire that middle-of-the-order target on the trade market rather than a free agent splash. That’s not surprising for a small-market franchise.
Kansas City did spend over $100MM in free agency last offseason, though that was mostly concentrated in a pair of mid-level rotation investments (Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha). They’ve already made a significant commitment to bring Wacha back on a three-year, $51MM deal after he opted out of his prior contract. RosterResource calculates the Royals’ 2025 payroll commitments around $116MM, including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players. That’s essentially where they opened this past season. It’s fair to presume they’re willing to increase spending on the heels of a surprising playoff berth, but adding an impact bat in free agency would require a significant payroll jump.
The Royals could certainly use another bat. Kansas City had a middle-of-the-pack offense despite an MVP-caliber season from Bobby Witt Jr. and a fantastic year from Salvador Perez. The Royals finished 13th in the majors in scoring. They placed between 10th and 19th in all three slash stats. Acquiring India should improve the team’s .306 on-base percentage, but he’s not likely to provide much of a power threat.
India, Witt, Perez and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino comprise a strong top half of the lineup. There’s work to be done in the bottom part of the order. Hunter Renfroe, MJ Melendez, Maikel Garcia and Kyle Isbel project to play key roles despite subpar offensive seasons. The outfield has been a longstanding issue and remains a concern. Kansas City could also upgrade at third base while pushing Garcia into a utility role.
Nolan Arenado headlines the trade market at third base, but he’s under contract for another three years and is still owed nearly $70MM (not including the money the Rockies are paying as a condition of his trade to the Cardinals). Arenado also has full no-trade rights. Alec Bohm has come up in trade rumors as the Phillies look for ways to adjust their lineup. He’s under arbitration control for another two seasons and projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for an $8.1MM salary. Arizona could still move Eugenio Suárez after exercising a $15MM club option.
In the outfield, the Cubs would probably welcome the opportunity to shed the $50MM remaining on Cody Bellinger’s contract, but the Royals are unlikely to assume a big portion of next year’s $27.5MM salary. Kansas City has reportedly shown interest in Angels left fielder Taylor Ward, who is under control for two more seasons and projected for a $9.2MM salary. The Halos are unlikely to move him unless they get MLB talent in return.
The Giants could deal Mike Yastrzemski, who’ll make $9.25MM in his final year of team control. Cleveland could move Lane Thomas but is unlikely to trade him to a direct AL Central competitor. The White Sox are open to offers on anyone, including center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Yet as MLBTR’s Steve Adams explored last week, a deadline trade involving Robert seems likelier than selling low this offseason.
Bellinger would help that outfield and he and vinnie would be their good lefties
I agree. But he’s not available. Cubs would need Perez in return to fill roster void
He’s not available??? Have you read any of these articles on this site???
At this point, free agents Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernandez are better middle-of-the-order options than Bellinger. I realize the Royals don’t like to spend. But if you want to win, sometimes you have to.
Pretty sure they’ve spent already (Witt, Perez, Wacha) It’s how much more can they add.
They want to add if they’re looking for a middle-of-the-order bat. As a baseball fan, I’d like to see a team like the Royals take their shot by making a sensible decision by acquiring the right guy. Santander would seem to make sense for their lineup.
Well, prognosticators suggest Santander is going to get 4-6 years at 20M-25M AAV on his next contract. With the QO, he also gets the Royals’ second rounder in next year’s draft.
That’s far more than Bellinger would cost. Do the Royals pay out nine figure contracts with draft capital attached?
That’s a good question. When they signed Witt to the extension, the Royals intended to build a winner around him. This seems to be an excellent time to put that plan into action. They should be able to withstand the loss of one draft pick. And the first two years of a Santander deal would be no more than what Bellinger would be making. Flags are forever, as they say. And who knows when or if the Royals will have this chance again during the Witt era.
I thought they were in on Soto?
“In on Soto”…They’re “in” on Juan Soto in the same way that I’m “in” on Tom Brady’s ex, Giselle Bundchen.
I actually wonder which one of those options is the likelier one.
If the internet is to be believed, Gisele is dating a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and she’s pregnant with their first child. I would still put it more likely that mlb fan can get with her than the Royals signing Soto.
It’s Kansas City. They were in on Toto, not Soto.
“I’ll get you my pretty”–Wicked Witch of the East
The first time I saw that movie, I started bawling when the winged monkeys appeared. It was three years before my mother let me take another crack at it. Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman were no problem. But those winged monkeys… wah!!!
Nah, that was West. East got a house dropped on her.
Spend money? We don’t wanna do that!
Too bad the Royals no longer have Brett Rooker.
Him behind Witt would have been awesome.
I think they also had Ryan O’Hearn, who normally bats cleanup for Baltimore now I think.
Only against righties
Taylor Watd isn’t really middle of the order, but he’s pretty good.
Anyone can be middle of the order if you’re brave enough
Ron Washington made Kevin Pillar middle of the order
None of these guys are really middle of the order bats.
Not with that attitude they won’t.
They’re Americans not Americants
Cheesy bro! Made me laugh though.
Masa Yoshida could be a fit if the Sox eat some of the contract.
I don’t think Yoshida qualifies as a middle of the order bat.
Look at the other names in the article. He qualifies. Whether you want him in that role is another issue.
I’d take Yoshida over Ward and Yaz, maybe even Robert and Thomas.
@salzilla. Is that you Dayton moore.
I’m a sucker for the Japanese players, what can I tell ya.
lmfaoooo
Yoshida isn’t much of an outfielder either. They’d be better off targeting Henry Davis of Pittsburgh.
Probably moreso than Yastrzemski.
It’s hilarious how Red Sox fans have envisioned a trade scenario for every single team now in regards to Yoshida. Haha! Poor guy has no love in Beantown.
Got nothing at all against the guy, I’m sure he is a nice person and all. He’s a victim of circumstance is the problem. He was given a bad contract by a bad GM who is no longer employed by the franchise, and while he is a decent player his skill set is rather limited and in continuing to be on the roster he is blocking Devers from shifting over to DH where he belongs, and as a lefty hitting “outfielder” he probably stands in the way of Roman Anthony getting promoted – or if he doesn’t, probably requires them to find a trade partner for Wilyer Abreu.
Given this team’s glut of left handed bats (as well as potential options to put together a quality outfield) I’m not opposed at all to trading Abreu. But given he was just one of the better rookies in the sport and won a gold glove with decent batting numbers, the reason to trade him would be if it helps fetch an elite starting pitcher which we sorely need. You absolutely do not push out a quality young player like that just to keep a Yoshida around. He is still good enough to be a useful player, there’s just not room for him in Boston anymore. Can certainly debate whether or not KC would have any use for him, but both Yoshida and the Red Sox would be better off if they ate some of that contract and find him a new home this winter.
They should just kick in some cash, trade him straight up for Cronenworth, and call it a day on Yoshida’s time in Boston.
I’d be perfectly fine with that.
As a Padres fan, I would too. Solves problems for both teams.
The Padres don’t want Yoshida anymore than the Sox do.
The Padres value low K guys, have an OF/DH spot available, and surely want to move Cronenworth. I could 100% see them making that deal..especially since Preller went after Yoshida before he signed with the Sox.
No yaz or ward , they need to get Bohm or nothing , maybe max Muncy , we need an impact personality more than a bat , Muncy for Renfroe and maybe a AAA pitcher
The Dodgers love Muncy, and they have him on a team-friendly contract. There’s no way they would trade him for someone like Hunter Renfroe.
Impact personality, lol! You fit right in here at MLB Trade Rumors, my man. This sounds like something Samuel or Avenger would post. Or as Dewey would say, “WAR doesn’t measure personality.”
Hammerin’ Hank;
I wouldn’t post that.
I wouldn’t even get into this stupid conversation about nothing – other than to keep my name clean.
Go make up something about someone else…..better yet,
take a night class in basic baseball at the local high school evening program for unemployable adults.
It’s kinda hard for Samuel to keep his ” name clean” when he has already muted 90% of MLBTR users. Buddy your name has been besoiled since at least 2022. Now you are worried about your reputation?
Journeyman Renfroe??? And maybe a AAA pitcher? Nah, LAD ain’t biting, not even a nibble.
Kudrna and 1 year of Renfroe for 1 year of Muncy , I think LA is biting
I wouldn’t bet on it.
Austin Hays.he had miserable season in 2024 ,but dealt with multiple health issues.. Back healthy he is worth a shot.
I can see the fit.
Andrew Benitendi from the WS. Didn’t he play in KC for a second and was successful?
The Royals will never get a true impact middle of the order bat. 2 Reasons why. First reason is that they are cheap. Second reason is that they like to prospect hug. They are essensially that Odd Couple episode where Felix asks the guy who runs the rent lot what a $10 bill can get him while trying to bribe the guy. The man responds with “Yeah, it will get you two $5s”. The Royals don’t understand that you can’t just trade garbage for good players, only garbage for garbage
Funny getting advice from a Mets fan when we’ve actually won a World Series this century and have a better playoff record with a 1/3 of the payroll expenditure. But, hey, lash out! You’re a Mets fan.
What do you have under dripping pipes? Puddles…
The Mets know a thing or two about acquiring garbage. And overpaying for it
“The Royals will never get a true impact middle of the order bat.”
They actually already have one. His name is Bobby Witt, Jr. They just happen to bat him 2nd in the lineup.
Have you looked at Piccolo’s trades since the 2024? There’s been no prospect hugging whatsoever. In fact, the team has made repeated overpays in the name of being in “win now mode”.
Win now mode often translates into mortgaging the future for short term gain. Just go to Houston and ask Dana Brown.
*Since the 2024 offseason, excuse me.
They overpaid for Harvey Hunter at the deadline and then he broke down. They gave a lot for Erceg but he was lights out. Great pickup.
Trade Caglianone for Luis Robert
That might get some attention from the Pale Hose which suggests it could be an overpay.
You’re both nuts. Caglianone ended the season in Single A. In what world is that an overpay, much less a fair return for Chicago?
The real world. Caglianone has more value than Robert right now.
Probably what it’ll take.
How about Robert and Benintendi with the White Sox paying all of Benintendis contract for Caglianone. I think that would make sense.
As a Sox fan that would be excellent news.
Can have Yoshida for a flyer
You just wait Weimer is going to take a step forward and become a 20 homerun guy
and a 200 strikeout guy, unfortunately.
He is the next Jose Siri.
The perfect fit for the Royals would be a switch hitting outfielder who is good defensively and has the ability to play center even if it’s not everyday.
Now who is that guy?
Jasson Dominguez is that guy. I dont think he’s available but he’s that guy.
That stadium is big. They have poor defenders at the corners they need athleticism out there. Yes they want a moto bat but they need defense too. Maybe they get 2 players instead of 1 to cover those needs.
Joc would be a good fit for KC
Kind of like Tyler O’neill for them. Plus power potential, not a big defensive liability compared to other free agents with strong bats, probably a bit cheaper than comparable options at the cost of more injury risk.
Agreed. I hope the Red Sox find a way to keep O’Neill, but if they don’t or if he doesn’t want to stay, I would think the Royals would be a very sensible fit for his services.
Not really a middle-of the order bat, but we need a CF who can hit., I wonder what the Rockies would ask for Brenton Doyle?
Tyler O’Neil maybe??? Or a trade for Triston Casas or Arenado?
A middle-of-the-order bat who plays quality CF defense and is cheap to sign or trade for? Those don’t exist. Dalton Varsho was that kind of player last year. He cost the Blue Jays the #6 overall prospect in MLB along with Lourdes Gurriel Jr, yet had a 98-OPS+ this year. I guess the Sox could pursue a trade for Duran, Merrill, Ramos, Doyle, Bleday or Carroll, but I seriously doubt any of those players will come cheap. Good luck.
Maybe the Sox should consider Jurickson Profar. He may be reasonably inexpensive.