Kansas City Royals would love to have Wil Myers in their lineup

The Kansas City Royals traded Wil Myers in 2012 for some key players who helped them turn things around, but it’d sure be nice to have Myers right now. 

Will Leitch of MLB.com wrote an article where he listed one current player that each team wishes they still had on their squad. For the Kansas City Royals, it’s none other than Wil Myers, who the team traded to the Rays in 2012 in exchange for pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis.

"The Royals were panned when they sent Myers (then a top prospect) along with other prospects for James Shields and Wade Davis, but that trade paved the way for them to win two straight pennants and a World Series title. But they sure could use the 2021 version of Myers right about now."

Obviously seeing the names the trade netted them in return, things worked out just fine for the boys in blue, who went on to appear in the World Series two years later and win the whole dang thing just three years removed from making the trade. It was a gamble that paid off handsomely.

Myers was not only one of the Royals’ top prospects at that time, but a top prospect overall. He went on to make his MLB debut in 2013 for the Rays where he slashed .293/.354/.478 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI through 373 plate appearances.

Royals fans were aching during that season seeing Myers’ production, but at the same time, Shields threw 228.2 innings and had a 3.15 ERA, proving to be the ace the Royals needed at that point in time. Davis was a failed starter, but eventually carved out a nice role in the bullpen.

Wil Myers is still playing at a high level and the Kansas City Royals could use that type of production.

Myers was traded to the Padres after just two seasons with the Rays and is still in San Diego. He had a nice 2020 season, slashing .288/.353/.606 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI, which are pretty similar to his rookie season (even in a shortened season), showing he’s still a tremendous ballplayer.

The trade with the Rays ended up working out well for both sides, but the Royals definitely won it, as they won a World Series just three years later. That’s the goal of baseball and the Royals took a risk and fortunately for them, it paid off. It’s still fun to wonder what Myers could have done in a Royals uniform and if he’d have played at a high level throughout his time there.

I guess we’ll never know.