Teams looking to improve or sell of for the future, must complete trades by today’s deadline at 5 p.m. CT.
The Royals made a move early by trading outfielder Lane Thomas to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday for pitchers Lucas Braun and Carter Holton. Reliever John Schreiber could also draw interest, as contenders are always looking for bullpen help.
But the Royals reportedly seem less inclined to move players who they feel can help them win in 2027, like Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. J.J. Picollo told
reporters it would take a large return to get them to part with either of the two rotation fixtures.
“If you’re dealing from a position of depth, then that’s a different story,” said Picollo, referring to a rotation that will be without Cole Ragans (UCL repair), Ryan Bergert (UCL reconstruction) and potentially Stephen Kolek (right flexor strain) through a significant portion of next season.
“If we end up moving another starter, another bullpen piece, now we have a lot of work to do in the offseason,” Picollo said. “We don’t mind the work, but then there’s the reality of how much can you actually get done?”
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes that teams have had interest in the veteran pitchers.
The Kansas City Royals have received a ton of interest in starters Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, but they rebuffed all offers, believing they need them to compete next year.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes the team is not looking to rebuild.
Unless Kansas City’s tack changes, it will hold onto Wacha and fellow starter Seth Lugo…The Royals will seek a John Schreiber landing spot. Anything else is a matter of their appetite to yield team control. Because if they do, Daniel Lynch IV would join the top tier of available left-handed relievers.
The Royals don’t want to rebuild. They believe in their core of Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, Maikel Garcia, Carter Jensen and Vinnie Pasquantino. Complementing it with pitching is the goal, but it’s one this deadline will struggle to supply. Limited inventory and limited quality tend to equal limited return.
MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand also doesn’t expect the Royals to trade anything more than their rentals.
The Royals are surefire sellers this week, but don’t look for Kansas City to trade away any of its controllable players.
According to sources, the Royals are open to moving their expiring contracts, most notably reliever John Schreiber and outfielders Lane Thomas and Starling Marte, but players with control beyond 2026 – namely pitchers Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV and Alex Lange – will likely remain in Kansas City after the Trade Deadline has passed.
“They’re trying to contend in 2027 and they think those guys are part of that equation,” a rival executive said. “It doesn’t seem like they’re going to move any of them. Maybe one of the relievers, but that would be it.”
Here are the trades that have taken place so far:
- The Nationals traded Curtis Mead to the Red Sox for Connelly Early.
- The Angels traded Logan O’Hoppe and Chase Silseth to the Rangers for Angel Arredondo.
- The Mets traded A.J. Minter to the Twins for Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani.
- The Orioles traded Dean Kremer to the Twins for Jhomnardo Reyes.
- The Guardians traded Bo Naylor and Codi Heuer to the Brewers for Blake Perkins and Craig Yoho.
- The Mariners traded Luis Castillo to the White Sox for Seranthony Dominguez, Nolan Jones, and Boston Smith.
- The Yankees traded Camilo Doval to the Pirates for Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz.
- The Tigers traded Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith.
- The Mets traded Freddy Peralta to the Rays for Aidan Smith, Emilien Pitre and Gary Gill Hill.
- The Blue Jays traded Kevin Gausman to the Cubs for Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene.
- The Nationals traded Luis Garcia Jr. to the Yankees for Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert, Ben Grable, and Jake Bird.
- The Giants traded Tyler Mahle to the Braves for Anthony Molina.
- The Angels traded Jose Soriano to the Blue Jays for Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti, and Angel Rivero.
- The Mets traded Huascar Brazobán to the White Sox for Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin.
- The Giants traded Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to the Phillies for Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair
- The Mets traded Brooks Raley to the Phillies for Luke Gabrysh and John Spikerman
We will keep this updated throughout the day!
