Perfect Royals OF Trade Target Available to Poach From Division Rival

The Royals are off to a fantastic start, rising up power rankings and looking like a legitimate playoff contender. Betting odds believe Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans could take home hardware by the end of the year, and vibes are higher in Kansas City than they've been in years.

That doesn't mean the roster is without flaws. The outfield is hitting just .197 with a .262 wOBA (weighted on-base average), both of which rank 29th in MLB. If the outfielders don't start hitting, reinforcements will be necessary to help support the rest of the team.

That's what makes the poor start from the Chicago White Sox so exciting. They're having a fire sale and outfielder Tommy Pham would be the perfect addition to the Royals' roster.

Royals Should Trade for OF Tommy Pham from White Sox

Pham is one of the lone bright spots for the White Sox so far, batting .282 with an .804 OPS, both of which would handily lead the Royals' outfield. He's got an expected batting average of .300 with strong numbers on strikeout percentage and whiff percentage as well.

While the 36-year-old would be a downgrade defensively, he could DH and serve the occasional spot start when necessary. For a team in desperate need of bats, it's rare that such a logical fit becomes available at a likely low cost.

The White Sox organization has plenty of ties to Kansas City, with Pedro Grifol and Chris Getz both with the franchise, so there shouldn't be an aversion to trading Pham within the division.

I'm willing to be patient with Nelson Velasquez, MJ Melendez and others, though with each passing day my patience wears thinner. This is a team that can now start dreaming of the playoffs, but you can't realistically compete with one of the worst outfields in the sport offensively.

Whether or not the Royals ultimately land Pham, I expect J.J. Picollo to be active in trying to find a bat to support the great defense.

More Kansas City Royals News: