An outside the box trade the Royals need to strongly consider

Dayton Moore has a strong tendency to bring back members of the 2015 world series team. From resigning Moose, bringing back the husks of Wade Davis and Greg Holland to making sure Escobar got his 10 years of service, the FO has shown a willingness to celebrate their greatest success. Even when it doesn't necessarily make sense.

So it's perhaps fitting that there's now the perfect opportunity for the Royals to "reunite" with big parts of their history while simultaneously fixing most of their own issues.

The Padres are reportedly "aggressively" shopping Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers. It's not surprising for a team looking to compete now. Hos and Myers are owed a collective 42.5 million this year for a duo that managed to produce just 1.4 fWAR between them last year. Freeing up that money would be a huge boon to a team who's competitive window is wide open.

Meanwhile the Royals likely aren't competitive this year and any increase to their chances are going to come from within. This means the Royals current payroll of ~73 million isn't going anywhere fast.

As we've seen in the not distant year of 2019, it's entirely possible for the Royals to carry a 100+ million dollar payroll when they need to. And we're coming off a CBA negotiation where it became clear that that number is easily sustainable.

Here's then the proposal:

Royals receive:

Eric Hosmer [Padres pick up '24 and '25 salary, $26 million]

Wil Myers

Robert Hassell III

Padres receive:

Carlos Santana [Royals pay $5 million of his salary]

Why this makes sense:

1. Padres receive the roster spots and financial flexibility they need this year and next. $35 million this year and $13 million gets freed up for next.

2. Santana gives the Padres a potential option as DH/1B or is just a non-tender candidate and on a 1 year/ $5 million deal for them is much more reasonable to keep or cut.

3. The Royals aren't on the hook for any cash when their window will be open in '24 and just $13 million in '23.

4. The Royals add a competent, if uninspired option at RF in Myers to serve as a stop gap for '22 or split time with Isbel.

5. Hosmer didn't even get on the plane to KC before he's released. This frees up the position for Nick Pratto/Vinnie Pasquantino and alleviates some of the roster crunch.

6. The Royals get a top 50 prospect in Robert Hassell III. Hassell helps cover one of the weakest positions in the Royals system at CF. And he'll likely be ready to come up in 2023, taking over for MAT.

The Royals end up eating some of the value on this deal. A50FV prospect is worth ~$30 million. and they end up paying out $48 million.

But for the Royals, money this year is worth less than money in 2 years, and that's almost exactly what this trade accomplishes. Instead of overpaying in 2023 for a centerfielder, they're overpaying now and likely getting a better deal down the line if Hassell is even an average player.

The Padres by comparison are in the exact opposite boat. Money right now is better than money in 2 years. Having a great prospect on a rookie deal in 2024 is worth less than being able to sign Freddie Freeman to give them 4 extra wins this year and next and that's exactly what this deal could allow them to do.