Kansas City Royals likely sellers come trade deadline
Even in a 60-game season, the Kansas City Royals are probably going to be sellers when the trade deadline approaches.
This wouldn’t be shocking for a variety of reasons. PECOTA doesn’t think much of the Kansas City Royals in 2020 and why should they? The team is in the midst of a rebuild and they’ve lost over 100 games the past two seasons.
Well, they can’t lose 100 games this time around due to only 60 games being played, but the Royals’ chances of making the playoffs still aren’t all that high. They have an increased chance at making a run at the postseason, but it’s not something that should be expected for the Royals.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report wrote an article on if every team would be a buyer or a seller at the trade deadline and of course he said the Royals would be sellers. He had them finishing the 2020 season with a record of 26-34, which honestly, if that’s their final record, I’d take it in what’s supposed to be a rebuilding year.
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"If the Royals want to try for bigger prospect hauls, they might make star utility man Whit Merrifield or even slugger Jorge Soler available."
More than likely, the two biggest names on the trade block will be that of Whit Merrifield and Jorge Soler, but pitchers Danny Duffy, Ian Kennedy, and Mike Montgomery could also be made available. Duffy would provide a team with a reliable third or fourth starter in their rotation, Kennedy has proven to be a pretty clutch closer, and Montgomery showed he could handle a relief role during the Cubs’ World Series run in 2016.
Merrifield has always been on the trade block for the Royals simply due to his age and the fact that the Royals aren’t anywhere close to contending. It’d make sense to trade the utility man while he’s still playing good ball, but it’s easy to see why they’ve kept him. He’s versatile, affordable, and a true leader on the diamond. Who wouldn’t want that on their team?
Soler was brought to Kansas City a few years ago via an offseason trade and he finally showed what he could do in 2019, belting 48 home runs and staying healthy for the first time in his career, which led to him appearing in all 162 games. If a team is looking for a designated hitter (and National League teams will need them this year too, increasing the odds), Soler could be made available for sure.
Hopefully the Kansas City Royals can either surprise some people and make a run at the postseason or, more than likely, they can get a few more prospects for their growing farm system that can help them win a few years down the road.
The 2020 season will be an interesting one, that’s for sure.