3 KC Royals who won't survive the trade deadline

The KC Royals are, at least, one of the few clear sellers ahead of this year's trade deadline. Dayton Moore's loyalty to players has hindered the Royals' trade deadline approach in previous years, but he is long gone. J.J. Picollo has a chance to prove himself and establish his vision for the Royals organization. It is now up to him to make bold moves and shape the team's future at this year's trade deadline.

The KC Royals must move these players ahead of the trade deadline.

The Royals are still tied for the best odds at next year's top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Oakland still has the worst winning percentage in the league, but Kansas City is making quite a case for that spot themselves. Not much has gone right for the Royals this season, outside of Bobby Witt Jr.'s improvements and Freddy Fermin's surprise campaign. Those two and other assorted improvements do not give the Royals any reason to stand pat at the deadline. There are a handful of players who should be untouchable, but most of this roster can be had for the right price by a contender, I imagine. 

Picollo made it known earlier this year that they wanted players that "are major-league ready or close to being major-league ready." While there is nothing wrong with that, this team needs talent in whatever form it takes. International prospects, former top picks, and everything in between The Royals don't have many trade chips that will make national headlines, but they still have some to get a good group of additions to the minor leagues.

Some clear-cut players should not be on the roster after the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Who are these players that should be gone, one way or another? These players include veterans who are on expiring contracts and may not fit into the team's long-term plans. Additionally, players who have underperformed or struggled with injuries could also be candidates to be moved. 

Pitcher Brad Keller

Keller's trade value has been an absolute roller coaster in the past calendar year. At this point, Keller is a poster child for the "trade or release" approach.

2023 is the final year the Royals control Keller. He carries a hefty arbitration fee, earning nearly $6 million this year alone. It was a vote of confidence in Keller, entering his sixth MLB season. He looked better than his 6-14 record reflected in 2022, and the Royals lacked better starting options ahead of the 2023 season. The move made sense in the preseason but looked terrible before too long.

Keller struggled through his nine starts this season, posting a career-worst 19.9 BB% and walking more batters than he struck out. He limited hard hits to an extent, and the 4.36 ERA is not too bad either. But, even on a team starving for quality starters, the Royals would be worse off with Keller on the mound after his injury. He has walked 18 batters in only eight innings with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.

I cannot see a route for Keller to rejoin the 26-man roster or a reason for him to do so. There is usually a place for players with potential and a track record of success, but Keller's recent performance raises serious doubts about his future in the major leagues. A team could send a minimal return for Keller, or the Royals could mercifully cut him loose. Both are very real possibilities, but Keller's time in Kansas City could be ending sooner rather than later.

Outfielder Edward Olivares

I am not saying Olivares has the bat that Jorge Soler does, but there is a similar timeline emerging for the two at just the right time. The Royals could get a small return for the outfielder, ending his tumultuous tenure in Kansas City.

Olivares was once a fan darling but never really got a fair shake at the MLB level. Well, we now know why that could be after seeing Olivares on the field this season. According to Baseball Savant, he is one of the worst left fielders in all of baseball, despite having elite sprint speed and arm strength. His reads can make a fan's head spin at times, and there are many mental lapses for him in the field.

Where Olivares' value comes from is with his bat. He had a career year in 2022, posting career-highs in wRC+, batting average, RBIs, and more. This year, he has a career-high six home runs, and he has been very streaky in the Royals lineup. He is hot after the All-Star break, though. He has a 165 wRC+, even on strikeouts and walks, and a .385 batting average in limited action. A contender should not be relying on Olivares as their everyday left fielder but rather as a valuable platoon bat. He is good against both lefties and righties, but his power shows best against lefties. 

I don't have an inside source or a crystal ball, but I feel comfortable projecting Olivares will be gone ahead of the trade deadline. The Royals have plenty of outfielders waiting in Omaha, and Olivares is what he is. If a team is willing to pay for that known commodity, the Royals should get that deal done fast.