The Royals are looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, general manager J.J. Picollo told reporters at the GM Meetings this week (link via ESPN’s Jesse Rogers). The GM added that an acquisition would ideally be capable of playing center field on at least a part-time basis.
That’s essentially the role Lane Thomas played for K.C. this year. They picked him up on a one-year, $5.25MM free agent contract last offseason. Thomas played reasonably well for a half-season, batting .232/.326/.393 across 97 games. He started 72 contests in the outfield, 52 of them up the middle. They traded him to Atlanta at the deadline for a pair of minor league pitchers and to dump what remained of Bailey Falter’s arbitration salary.
Thomas didn’t play particularly well for the Braves. He’s back on the market and might be available even more cheaply than he was a year ago if the Royals wanted to reengage. Tyrone Taylor, Myles Straw, Jake Meyers and Victor Robles are other possibilities as fourth/fifth outfield types. If the Royals wanted a potential everyday center fielder, Luis Robert Jr. is the top right-handed hitter on the free agent market.
Dane Myers and Jonny DeLuca are fourth outfielders who could be available on the trade front. The Nationals are fielding interest in former second overall pick Dylan Crews, who’s a change of scenery candidate. Washington will probably be looking for an affordable pitcher in return, though, and that’s not an area of organizational strength for Kansas City. The Royals might balk at giving up Noah Cameron given Crews’ lack of big league production to this point. Players like Luinder Avila (who’ll likely miss next season after August Tommy John surgery) or Daniel Lynch IV don’t seem enticing enough for Washington to part with a player who has Crews’ draft and prospect pedigree.
Kansas City arguably should be looking for two outfield acquisitions. Right fielder Jac Caglianone is their only clear regular. Left fielder Isaac Collins underwhelmed in his first season after being acquired from Milwaukee. Kyle Isbel is a strong defensive center fielder but had a career-worst .224/.268/.323 showing at the plate. He’s in his final year of arbitration control and a potential non-tender candidate on a projected $3.5MM salary (courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz). Even if the Royals keep Isbel around, they’d ideally push him into a true fourth outfield role. Tyler Tolbert and John Rave are fifth outfield types.
There’s room on the roster for K.C. to both add a right-handed hitting center fielder like Taylor or Meyers and acquire a true everyday player in left field. Ian Happ, Taylor Ward, Ramón Laureano, and Trent Grisham are free agent possibilities. Former K.C. target Jarren Duran is all but guaranteed to be traded or non-tendered by the Red Sox after they agreed to a four-year deal with Jake Bauers. Brandon Marsh and JJ Bleday are other trade possibilities.
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