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The Royals have no choice but to become sellers for the upcoming trade deadline. Last week, we asked whether the Royals should consider trading Kris Bubic. This week, the question is what kind of return the Royals should be seeking for whoever they trade at the deadline.
It’s unclear
who the Royals can, will, or should trade, but there is still time for those questions to shake out. In the meantime, the Royals need to spend a considerable amount of time evaluating whether they think they could compete next year or if they need to accept next season as a rebuilding/reloading season and focus on getting players who can help in 2028.
Of course, if you get guys who might help next year, you’re also getting guys that you can work with for an additional year to have them more prepared for 2028. In the same way that Jac Caglianone struggled last year but has been much better this year, Carter Jensen would ordinarily be expected to have grown past some of his struggles from this season. And guys who could debut next year might truly come into their own in 2028. So maybe the answer is both?
Or maybe the Royals should be targeting even further in the future because while they have some truly impressive talent in the minors that could be ready by late next year, 2029 or later is a much safer bet. Honestly, I’m not sure I even have an answer to this question. But do you?
