The Royals are still four games back of a playoff spot on the eve of the July 31 trading deadline. With the acquisitions of Adam Frazier and Randal Grichuk and the signing of top trade candidate Seth Lugo to a long-term extension, the Royals are signalling they are more likely to be buyers rather than sellers.
There is a definite need for more offensive firepower in the outfield. Royals outfielders have combined to hit .216/.271/.323 for a wRC+ of 61, worst in baseball. What are some trade options
they could consider if they decide to continue adding to the roster? There are short-term options available - those rentals that will be free agents at the conclusion of the season. It won’t take as much to acquire these players, but if the Royals have a bad week and fall completely out of it, the effort will be completely wasted. There are also longer-term options that can help in 2026 and perhaps beyond, but the acquisition cost becomes much higher.
Short-term options
Harrison Bader, Twins
Most of the free agent outfield options last year have stunk it up this season, but Bader has been an exception. He signed a one-year, $4.75 million deal with a mutual option for 2026 and has been a 2.6 rWAR hitter for the Twins. Bader is an excellent defender who has won a Gold Glove in the past and solid pop with 12 home runs. He is vastly overperforming his on-base percentage this year, almost doubling his walk rate, so he could be due for some regression.
Willi Castro, Twins
The Royals love positional versatility, and Castro has that in spades - he has played every position but catcher this year. The 28-year-old has been an above-average hitter the past three seasons and was a surprise All-Star last year. He’s hitting .247/.338/.411 with 10 home runs and nine steals, his best power year to date. A switch-hitter who could help out anywhere on the field should be a pretty coveted piece by contenders at the deadline.
Ramón Laureano, Orioles
Laureano was another nice buy-low free agent last winter who has rebounded with the Orioles. The 31-year-old is hitting a career-best line at .291/.356/.531 with 15 home runs. He is still a solid defender in right field with a strong arm. He’s hitting .333/.393/.587 over his last 21 games, so he’s a hot bat that can help a contender immediately.
Cedric Mullins, Orioles
Mullins has been very consistent, posting an OPS+ between 101 and 107 in each of the last four seasons. He’s hitting .226/.303/.429 with 15 home runs and 14 steals. His defensive metrics have regressed in center, but you could probably stick him in left and get terrific defense. He’s hitting just .190/.269/.327 away from Camden Yards, which is a bit of a red flag.
Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles
Old friend alert! O’Hearn was drafted by the Royals and played for them from 2018 to 2022. His career blossomed in Baltimore and he became an All-Star this year, hitting .283/.374/.456 with 12 home runs. O’Hearn has only played 18 games in right field, sticking mostly to first base and DH. He is also largely a platoon player, hitting just .236/.333/.345 against lefties.
Marcell Ozuna, Braves
Royals fans saw what Ozuna can do in Kauffman Stadium when he launched a 399-foot home run last night against the Royals. He finished fourth in MVP voting last year with 39 home runs, but his numbers have fallen off signficantly this year. Still, he has been an above-average hitter with a line of .236/.364/.403 and 15 home runs. He will have to hit because he provides no defensive value and should probably not spend any time with a glove on his hand.
Long-term options
Jo Adell, Angels
The Angels are tied with the Royals in the Wild Card standings, but Ken Rosenthal reports they are getting a lot of trade interest in the 26-year-old Adell. The right-handed bat is enjoying a career-best season with 21 home runs and a line of .237/.307/.470 in 101 games. His defense in center field has been poor, although he may fare better in a corner outfield spot. Adell is under club control through 2027 and seems to be blossoming as a hitter, so expect the asking price to be high.
Alex Call, Nationals
Call is a 30-year-old reserve player who could get traded to make room for younger players. The right-handed hitter enjoyed a career year last year when he hit .343, and while he has regressed, he has still been solid with a line of .274/.371/.386. He has a strong arm that would fit well in right, and would not be eligible for free agency until after 2029. With the acquisition of Grichuk, however, the Royals are less likely to be interested in a right-handed bench bat.
Jarren Duran, Red Sox
Reports surfaced that the Royals might be interested in Duran, who was an All-Star last year and is hitting .261/.329/.450 this year with 10 home runs, 18 steals, and a league-high 12 triples. Boston is in contention, but has a glut of outfielders and a need for more starting pitching. Duran can be intense - he got into it with Royals fans a few years ago, not the only time he has interacted with fans - and he has been open about his mental health struggles. The asking price for Duran would be very high - think Noah Cameron and probably a top prospect like Blake Mitchell or Carter Jensen to start the bidding. But he has a 124 OPS+ over the last three seasons and is under club control through 2028.
Adolis García, Rangers
Garcia his 39 home runs and was an All-Star in 2023, but has struggled as a below-average hitter since then. He’s hitting just .227/.273/.389 with 14 home runs and 10 steals, but is still a 2.5 rWAR player due to his terrific defense. The 32-year-old is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season, but his primary position is right field, a spot that the Royals envision for Jac Caglianone.
Steven Kwan, Guardians
Kwan has been a hot name lately, with the Blue Jays said to be very interested in him if the Guardians make him available. The 28-year-old is a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, batting .286/.351/.410 with nine home runs and 11 steals. He has a terrific walk rate and is one of the hardest hitters to strike out, making him an ideal leadoff hitter. He’s not eligible for free agency until after 2027, so the Guardians aren’t motivated to trade him unless they get a huge offer for him.
Bryan Reynolds, Pirates
There were some earlier reports the Royals were interested in Reynolds, but Ken Rosenthal later wrote the Pirates and Royals were not a good match as they were both looking for hitting. Reynolds was an All-Star last year, but is enduring the worst season of his career, hitting .232/.289/.373 with 10 home runs. He’s trending in the wrong direction too, hitting just .193 in July. He is in the middle of a long-term deal that will pay him around $15 million each year through 2030. But he is currently a below-replacement-level player, which will make him very difficult for the Pirates to move.
Luis Robert Jr., White Sox
Robert was an All-Star in 2023, but regressed badly last year. That has carried over into 2025, and his line is just .206/.295/.348 with 11 home runs. He does have a career-high 26 steals, and many of the underlying metrics suggest he has been very unlucky. He is a solid defender in center, although his lack of hustle has drawn criticism in the past. He’s just 27 years old, and has flexible $20 million club options in the next two seasons.
Jesús Sánchez, Marlins
Sánchez isn’t a huge impact player, but he has a nice power/speed combo with the possibility he could unlock more potential as he’s just 27 years old. The left-handed hitter is batting .252/.318/.405 with nine home runs and nine steals in 85 games this year. He has posted an average OPS+ the last two seasons, but has never been more than a 1.5 rWAR player in his career. He is under club control through 2027, and the Astros are reportedly very interested.
Taylor Ward, Angels
The Royals have been linked to Ward for a year, but the Angels have not budged in moving him. Their patience with him has paid off, as he has already tied a career-high with 25 home runs, and is hitting .229/.305/.485. Ward is already 31 years old, but is under club control through next year. The Angels aren’t motivated to trade him, but they are starved for pitching and may move him if they can get some arms.
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