"As mentioned, it's been a long time since the Royals got strong production from the grass. Last winter, they were connected to free agents such as Anthony Santander and Jurickson Profar but fell short in those pursuits. Kansas City outfielders produced a collective line of .225/.285/.348 in 2025. That resulted in a 73 wRC+, indicating they were 27% below league average, the worst group in the majors."
"Also, the free agent outfield market has a big gap. At the top, there are guys like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, who will be out of the Royals' price range. Then there's a big drop to the tier featuring guys like Mike Yastrzemski and Harrison Bader. The Royals just acquired Yastrzemski at the deadline and he played well for them."
The Royals possess a strong, deep starting rotation and are open to trading from that depth to upgrade a weak outfield. Kansas City outfielders hit .225/.285/.348 in 2025, producing a 73 wRC+—27% below league average and the worst outfield group in MLB. Owner John Sherman indicated payroll will likely be similar in 2026, and projections show roughly $139MM, limiting big-ticket free-agent options. The team has pursued targets like Jarren Duran and added Mike Yastrzemski at the deadline; trades for cost-controlled or mid-tier outfielders are a realistic path.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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