The latest on Royals trade rumors
The trade market has really picked up this weekend.
The deadline to make trades is Tuesday at 5 pm CT, but teams are getting a jump on the market with a flurry of deals already this weekend. Here are the latest trade rumors about the Royals.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Royals made a run at Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who was instead traded to the Mariners for outfielder Aidan Smith, right-hander Brody Hopkins, and a player to be named later. They didn’t “line up” for Orioles outfielder Austin Hays, who went to the Phillies for pitcher Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. The Royals are now turning their attention to three other right-handed bats.
The Kansas City Royals, sources tell The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, are targeting one of three right-handed bats — Lane Thomas, Taylor Ward or Luis Rengifo.
Thomas has been a solid outfielder for the Nationals, posting an OPS+ above 100 in each of the last four seasons, and is hitting .250/.329/.399 with 8 home runs and a career-high 28 steals in 76 games this year. He has been heating up lately, hitting .284/.37/.473 in his last 44 games. The 28-year-old is a free agent after the 2025 season.
Rengifo would provide positional flexibility for the Royals, able to play second or third, and even a little outfield. The 27-year old switch-hitter is having a career season offensively, hitting .304/.347/.426 with 6 home runs and 23 steals in 74 games, and would be a free agent after 2025. Ward has been rumored as a trade candidate for the Royals before. He has posted an OPS+ over 100 in the past three seasons, but has slumped this summer to hit .225/.308/.393 with 15 home runs in 102 games.
Another right-handed bat that could be available is A’s All-Star Brent Rooker. But Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman both report the A’s may be inclined to keep him.
A’s are telling teams they are reluctant to trade Brent Rooker (.948 OPS) or JJ Bleday (30 doubles). With progress being made and 103.7-mph closer Mason Miller on the shelf, it doesn’t look like a huge sale for them
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 27, 2024
The Rangers, Astros, and Mariners have all shown interest in All-Star Isaac Paredes.
The Royals were reportedly in on Jazz Chisholm, according to Jim Bowden, before he was dealt to the Yankees for catcher Agustin Ramírez and infielders Jared Serna and Abrahan Ramírez.
According to source both #Pirates and #Royals were in on Jazz Chisolm trade talks with catching prospects the headliner in each offer. #Pirates finished close 2nd
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) July 27, 2024
The Royals have organizational depth at catcher with Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin at the MLB level and Blake Mitchell, Carter Jensen, Ramon Ramirez, and Hyungchan Um all ranked among their top prospects.
Jon Heyman also reports the Royals have been in touch with the Angels. They have a number of players they could trade at the deadline in addition to Ward and Rengifo. They already traded closer Carlos Estévez to the Phillies for pitching prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri.
Having missed out on Estévez, the Royals could turn to veteran Luis Garcia.
Veteran righty reliever Luis Garcia with the Angels is drawing a ton of interest. Yankees, Red Sox, Royals, others
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 27, 2024
The 37-year-old veteran has a 3.80 ERA in 44 games with 40 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings.
Ken Rosenthal writes the Royals are also one of many teams interested in Marlins reliever Tanner Scott.
The teams interested in Scott (and presumably Estévez) include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Orioles, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, according to sources briefed on the Marlins’ discussions. As The Athletic reported Wednesday, the Marlins are fielding calls on nearly all of their relievers, and all are available regardless of contract or remaining years of control.
Scott was an All-Star for the first time this year with 18 saves and a 1.18 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 45 2⁄3 innings, although with 5.3 walks-per-nine innings. He is a free agent at the end of this season. Other Marlins relievers that could be available include Declan Cronin and Calvin Faucher.
Other trades around baseball so far this weekend:
- The Marlins traded pitcher AJ Puk to the Diamondbacks for infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and outfielder Andrew Pintar
- The Rays traded pitcher Zach Eflin to the Orioles for pitcher Jackson Baumeister and outfielders Matthew Etzel and Mac Horvath
- The Mariners traded pitcher Ryne Stanek to the Mets for outfielder Rylan Thomas
- The Blue Jays traded catcher Danny Jansen to the Red Sox for pitcher Gilberto Batista and infielders Cutter Coffey and Eddinson Paulino
- The Blue Jays traded pitcher Yimi Garcia to the Mariners for outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher Jacob Sharp
- The Blue Jays traded pitcher Nate Pearson for shortstop Josh Rivera and left fielder Yohendrick Pinango
- The Rockies traded pitcher Nick Mears to the Brewers for pitchers Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera
- The Nationals traded outfielder Jesse Winker to the Mets for pitcher Tyler Stuart