The Royals may be looking for a long-term piece to the lineup.
The Royals have fallen to 40-47, and unless they get hot over the next few weeks, they will likely be sellers at the trade deadline at the end of the month. But that doesn’t preclude them from making additions as well, if they improve the team in the long term. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Royals may be looking to bolster their outfield by adding a veteran on a long-term deal – Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds. Rosenthal reports the Royals are “interested” in the switch-hitter, according to sources briefed on their thinking.
Talks between the clubs have yet to commence in earnest. The Royals, last in the majors in runs per game, are looking at a number of other hitters. But Reynolds, 30, could make particular sense for Kansas City, assuming he continues his recovery from a poor start.
Reynolds is a two-time All-Star, hitting .275/.344/.447 with 24 home runs last year as he was named to the Midsummer Classic. But he has slumped this year, hitting just .237/.303/.393 with 10 home runs in 82 games. Rosenthal notes that Reynolds got off to an awful start and has begun to heat up in the summer, hitting .256/.316/.456 in June.
As for what the Pirates are looking to get back, it may just be salary relief. Reynolds signed an eight-year, $106.75 million deal in 2023, the largest contract in club history. He is signed through 2030 with a $20 million club option in 2031 with a $2 million buyout. He earns $12 million this year, $14 million next year, and $15 million in each season from 2027 to 2030. If the Pirates are asked to chip in to cover the salaries, the Royals would likely have to toss in some significant prospects.
The Royals do have some financial flexibility going forward. Seth Lugo has a $15 million player option he is almost certain to decline. Michael Lorenzen has a $12.5 million mutual option that will likely be declined in favor of a $1.5 million buyout. The Royals have a $13.5 million club option on Salvador Perez for next year with a $2 million buyout. Aside from that the Royals have around $42 million in guaranteed obligations to Michael Wacha, Bobby Witt Jr., and Carlos Estévez. They could also have a large number of arbitration cases for players that include Jonathan India, Kris Bubic, Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Lucas Erceg.
Reynolds has moved from center to left field, but his defensive metrics this year are not good so far. He has a good blend of power and speed that could play well at Kauffman Stadium – all ten of his home runs this year would be home runs at the K. Reynolds has an average walk rate, but his .347 career on-base percentage would be much-welcomed at the top of the lineup. Royals outfielders are collectively hitting .203/.257/.287, by far the worst numbers in baseball.
The Royals could very well take a creative approach at the deadline, looking to “sell” on some players like Seth Lugo and Kris Bubic who are only under club control short-term, while buying on long-term players that can improve the team this year and beyond.
“Whether it ends up being where we’re in a position that we’re in it, or a position we’re not, you’re always trying to improve your team,” J.J. Picollo told reporters last month.