The Royals are known to be evaluating the trade market for outfielders, with president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo recently signaling a willingness to trade from his rotation depth to bring in some outfield help. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Kansas City is looking to acquire multiple outfielders this offseason — ideally one via trade and another via free agency. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that free agent center fielder Harrison Bader is a target for the Royals. Austin Hays is also on the team’s radar, per Heyman.
While Heyman suggests that the Royals are particularly keen on adding some right-handed help to the lineup, manager Matt Quatraro downplayed any desire for specific handedness in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (video clip).
“Right-handed, left-handed — it’s who can give us the professional at-bats,” Quatraro said when asked about his team’s approach as it shops for upgrades this winter. “I don’t think it has to be one or the other. It’s who wants to be there, who can provide the most upside for us within the lineup to lengthen it out.” Quatraro did go on to call Bader a “great name” and a “top-notch free agent this offseason” when asked specifically about Heyman’s report, but he naturally sidestepped commenting on any specific interest from his club.
Unsurprisingly, Rosenthal suggests that the Royals aren’t pursuing top-end free agents like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, both of whom will command nine-figure contracts that exceed Kansas City’s preferred price range. He also implies that there’s some reluctance to bet too heavily on rebound candidates, given that the team will already be banking on meaningful contributions from young players like catcher Carter Jensen and first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone.
Bader, according to Rosenthal, is seeking a three-year deal in free agency. Whether that proves too steep for the Royals remains to be seen, but the ask is understandable coming off a terrific season. The 31-year-old slashed a career-best .277/.347/.449 (122 wRC+) and also notched career-high marks in home runs (17), doubles (24) and plate appearances (501) in 146 games between the Twins and Phillies. Bader played more left field than usual, in deference to Byron Buxton during his time with the Twins, but provided his usual brand of plus defense in both spots.
Glove-first outfielders of this nature generally haven’t been able to command three-year contracts in free agency, typically settling for two-year arrangements, at best. Bader could be helped out by a thin and frankly bleak market for center field help, although recent offseasons with a similar lack of options at the position haven’t yielded overpays for the few credible candidates available.
Bader’s ability to land a three-year deal (or his lack thereof) will hinge on whether teams buy the offensive breakout. There are reasons to be skeptical. Bader’s production was buoyed by a huge .359 average on balls in play. Last year’s 27.1% strikeout rate, meanwhile, was his highest since 2020.
The uptick in power and overall production isn’t really supported by an increase in batted-ball quality; Bader’s 87.2 mph average exit velocity is well below the league-average and an exact match for his 2024 mark — a season in which he batted .236/.284/.373. Bader did barrel more balls than usual this season and enjoy a slight bump in hard-hit rate, but the uptick in whiffs and a career-high 45.7% ground-ball rate make it more than fair to question whether he can sustain this type of offense.
Hays, 30, would be another righty-swinging addition, albeit one who is coming off a lesser season at the plate and is not an option in center field at this stage of his career. He popped 15 homers for the Reds in 2025 while hitting .266/.315/.453 overall (105 wRC+). As usual, a disproportionate amount of Hays’ production came against left-handed pitchers, whom he crushed at a .319/.400/.549 clip. Against right-handers, Hays mustered a more tepid .249/.286/.422 output.
Hays has generally been a fine defensive left fielder. He does have some experience in center but hasn’t played there since 2023 and only has 483 total big league innings at the position (compared to more than 3600 in left field and more than 900 in right field). He’s battled myriad injuries in recent seasons, including calf, hamstring and foot ailments in 2025 and, far more concerningly, a severe kidney infection in 2024 that sapped every aspect of his game. Hays played last season on a one-year, $5MM deal in Cincinnati and is probably looking at another affordable one- or perhaps two-year deal in free agency.
The Royals’ 2026 payroll comes in at a projected $139MM, per RosterResource. That’s already considerably higher than the $126MM mark at which they opened the 2025 season. They’re within a few million dollars of the franchise-record $143MM — a mark that was set under the late David Glass, who sold the club to current owner John Sherman back in Nov. 2019.
That number could change a bit, depending on the type of outfielder the club targets via trade and whether they trade a somewhat established starter for said outfielder. Lefty Kris Bubic, for instance, has been the subject of trade talks and is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $6MM next year. If he’s traded and the return includes a pre-arbitration outfielder, the Royals would trim more than $5MM off that expected payroll.
However it takes shape, upgrading the outfield is the clear priority for Kansas City this winter. Royals outfielders were far and away the least-productive group in Major League Baseball last year, slashing a combined .225/.285/.348. The resulting 73 wRC+ ranked last in the game. Kansas City’s 37 home runs from its outfield were the second-fewest of any team in the sport. None of the Royals’ best and/or most MLB-ready prospects play the outfield naturally. Caglianone is a first baseman who’s learning right field due the presence of Vinnie Pasquantino at his natural position. In addition to Bader and Hays, the Royals are also said to be interested in re-signing deadline acquisition Mike Yastrzemski.
Tony Taters is available in trade I am certain
He would sort of fit in Kauffman. He has real power and pulls his fly balls. But that’s a big OF even in the corners. How much does Salvy DH and force Santander to play the OF?
Santander is way out of KC price range!!
13.7M AAV
that’s doable
KC had interest last offseason
Boston would be a natural trade partner…
So what do they ask for in return? Is Bubic or Ragens in play after the Gray and Oviedo trades? Do they except prospects? Is Caglianone in play even though he’s LH?
they are not going to sell jac!
Accept*.. and yes. Ragans is a clear cut number 2 starter and Bubic would be a number 2 after working with Andrew Bailey. Cags won’t be moved but the Sox would take someone of his age, upside and pedigree in a heartbeat
Jarren Duran/Wilyer Abreu is not worth Ragens or Caglianone. Bubic for Duran sounds like a start, but Abreu can’t be swapped for an ace.
The Red Sox aren’t trading Duran or Abreu for Bubic that’s silly talk.
I think the two trades already made but Boston are an indicator that a Ragans deal isn’t happening.
Carter Jensen would be the clear top target for Boston IMO. But they’re more likely to look for an established bat if they can find one.
jensen is Salvy’s back up in 2026! He’s not available
He may not be available, and in that case there’s no chance the Royals could get Duran without trading Ragans. That said, I doubt his status as the backup catcher has anything to do with his availability as there are plenty of backup catchers available for cheap.
If the Royals aren’t playing Jensen full time it would be a waste (I really like his bat), So he would have to DH when not catching. But that’s an issue with Caglianone, as it forces him into the outfield, where he was truly awful last year. But perhaps they could trade Pasquantino for an outfielder?
Salvy DH, Jensen catching
The Royals are not going to trade the heir apparent of Salvador Perez
@TLB2001 as mentioned, that leaves them with perhaps the worst defender in baseball in RF.
@RoyalsFan There are many who seem to think that will be Mitchell. If they aren’t willing to trade anyone good, they’re not getting Duran. Will have to shop in the bargain bin for OFers.
KC made a mistake not trading Ragans to Boston for Jarren Duran and 1-2 of Boston’s young starters. Instead, Boston pivoted to the deal with Pittsburgh for Oviedo. Unless Boston decides to move one of their established starters (Bello, Oviedo, etc) they are probably all done with pitching upgrades now. Duran would have been electric in Kauffman Stadium.
Work a trade with the Astros for Ragans and Meyers plus a prospect. Meyers is a Gold Glove caliber defender, steals bases, and makes solid contact.
The Astros don’t have the prospects to land Ragans. Maybe they could get Kris Bubic though.
I’ll give you Jonathan India for Jake Myers.
I’m sure you would.
Astros don’t want India unless you add starting pitcher.
How about a slightly used, James MacArthur?
They don’t need relievers.
If that’s what it took to get Ragan’s the Red Sox would be in and crush that offer with Duran and a prospect or two.
Meyers is too light of a bat for that trade. The Royals need a strong bat with pop.
Do they need pop or do they need line drive hitters to take advantage of that park?
If they’re trading a viable healthy SP with a couple years of control, then both.
C’mon brewers if the royals get 2 OF’s get a power bat please
If Milwaukee is willing to trade Yelich to reduce their payroll, the Royals might be willing to trade a pitcher and a couple of prospects. Then they could trade Peralta for a cheaper bat.
Unless the Brewers are willing to pay 1/2 of or better of his remaining contract, he is out of KC price range.
Don’t think yelich would waive the no trade for KC
Jarren Duran and Kyle Harrison for Cole Ragens.
I would not trade Ragans for Duran at this point…and I don’t think Boston would either. They got two pitchers already. I feel Boston wants more than just Ragans. If I am the Royals I would pass on trading Ragans. Bubic or nothing.
Yeah Ragans is untouchable to me. Even with the injured\down year. Ace potential on a team with a tight budget.
we only have two free spots on the 40 man plus there’s a possibility you could go after an outfielder in the rule five draft, right?
Would they be interested in one gently used Jasson Dominguez? I’ll personally pay for his flight to KC
Josh Lowe I’m sure is available, the Rays are loaded with LH outfield bats… Um and there’s a switch hitter S/S I would love to see get a chance with another team… insert eye roll…
I really like Hays a lot. In my opinion he’s pretty underrated. He’s a good fielder, his strikeout rate is moderate, and he has decent power. I wish the Yankees were interested in him.
If I’m KC I think that I’d rather pay $5-6 million for one year of Hays than enter into a multi-year deal with a guy like Bader coming off a career year that is probably not repeatable.
Have to wonder just how many years and dollars Yastrzemski is hoping to get. The bat and defense played very well in Kauffman stadium’s spacious outfield. Seems like he would be an easy way to solidify RF.
only problem is that’s where they have Jac playing… so he’d have to play left field maybe but he would be an off the bench guy
I get that this is their preference, but it entails a team trying to contend taking an offensive and defensive downgrade.
IMO, a reasonable solution would be a two year deal Yastrzemski that gives Caglianone a chance to improve with the glove. If only the bat comes along, they’ll probably be able to slot him into DH to replace Perez by that time.
White Sox have Luis Robert, the asking price should not be high at this point.
I thought Hays might be a target for them. Good low risk/high reward kind of guy for a team that needs multiple OFs but doesn’t have a ton of money to spend.
Jac Caglianone for Bryan Reynolds
You forgot the “laughing” emoji.
Caglione is not going to be traded. Pittsburgh is looking to trade pitching for another bat just like the Royals and therefor is not a good trade partner for the Royals.
no way.
Ramos for Bubic feels possible.
What Ramos we talking about? If Heliot, LOL no way.
You thought we were talking?
LOL no way.
Per BTV
Ramos $16 million
Bubic $12 million
That’s reasonable
Tomorrow’s Orioles-Royals trade news today.
Maybe Cubs with alcantara and Wiggins for Ragens
The Royals are looking to win with MLB ready starting players in 2026.
Plus that’s about half of what Ragans would cost.
I wouldn’t sign Bader at 3 years based off one season. I would offer him two years with a mutual option. Let him prove himself. As far as Hays…no thanks. Boston can walk if they won’t trade Duran for Bubic and a prospect. I think that ship has sailed due to Boston’s trade for other pitchers already. Houston’s Meyers is much like Bader…a glove first OF which had one decent season who won’t fill the Royals need for a power bat. If I were the Royals I would deffinately not trade Ragans for Meyers…that is an overpay. I would suggest Robert from WS as the most viable option, not Ragans but possibly Bubic and a high level prospect. Why the Royals are not considering Adolis Garcia as a low price option I do not know. He is a good comeback option who can play the OF corners with a power bat which is what the Royals need.
was he non-tendered so he would be cheaper?
Garcia was non-tendered, yes.
Cody bellinger getting 9 figures is ridiculous.
Cards have outfielders and royals have young pitching on the farm. Seems like a good fit. Donovan, romero and noot would all help kc now.
Yep. Cards-Royals seems the most obvious trade match going right now. Nootbar would fit real nicely in that KC outfield.
Not super sexy, but a guy like Nathan Lukes might play well in that park. He’s not a typical slugging galoot of a corner OF, but he’s a high contact guy who controls the strike zone well. He does pull his fly balls a bit so he could hit you a couple homers on the road but there’s not a ton of raw power there. When he’s going well, he hits a lot of line drives so the slugging is more in the shape of doubles than homers. Defensively, he’s good in a corner. Not a true CF because he doesn’t have elite sprint speeds, it he covers a lot of ground with good reads and routes and has a good arm. That would play well in the big confines of Kauffman. Late bloomer so he’s still pre arb which could save you a couple bucks to buy a weak side platoon partner like Hays for him.
Jays could use some relief. Erceg feels like too much. Perhaps Zerpa or Steven Cruz as a framework?
I’d offer you zerpa
I like Zerpa. I think there’s upside there. Although the Jays already have a couple lefties who keep the ball on the ground. Nobody has sustained their success yet so having a few guys with options to play the same role is good. What’s the deal with Steven Cruz? Roster Resource has him not even on the major league team. Command issues? Highish walk rates but not terrible. The stuff models love the stuff and the Statcast metrics show it’s hard to square him up.
if they had a winter meetings in the MLB the show game I would make so many crazy signings and trades. It would be hilarious.
Lets go big and break the Winter Merti g 😉 Riley Greene, Javier Baez and Bryce Rainer for Bobby Witt! Tell me why not!
I’d rather just bring back Yaz for way less and I don’t think either Bader or Hays profile well offensively in our park. I haven’t looked at splits, but I’m guessing Hays’ numbers benefit from some home cooking.
Trade for Darren, bring back Yaz and buy low on a Luis Robert change of scenery play.