KC Royals players (and prospects) who should already be on the trade block 3 weeks into the 2023 season

The KC Royals are still in the infancy of what could be a very long 2023 season. Sure, 162 games from March to September is already a lot, but this team could cause a whole host of headaches. An embarrassing April 10 loss to the Texas Rangers has removed any previous goodwill the Royals accrued. It is a frustrating time to be a fan of the Royals.

The common theme over the past few Royals seasons has been fans clamoring for trading away veteran players. The team has done that successfully in the past calendar year, getting prospects in return for players like Andrew Benintendi and Michael A. Taylor. Those two, and other miscellaneous players, are hardly MLB superstars but the Royals jettisoned them in return for players that could contribute in their next competitive window. It is hardly glamorous and remains an annual part of Royals' mediocrity.

The KC Royals may not be splashy this trade deadline, but they have plenty of options that could interest contending teams.

The 2023 Royals could once again be sellers at the trade deadline, or in the coming months. The team does feature some low-level trade targets and ones that could help contenders bolster their supporting staff. Royals fans are all over trading away infielder Hunter Dozier, ending a player-team marriage that has not worked for years. But, that unlikely move would be once in a million and do little to move the Royals roster needle. The Royals actually finding a trade partner for Dozier is a flitting fantasy that needs to be forgotten.

Well, that was happy.

Outside of Dozier, there are some Royals players fans could see rumored to be on the move. While one is an expendable veteran, the other two options would be signs of bigger moves from the Kansas City Royals. Who are they, and why would another team trade for them?

Catcher Freddy Fermin

Catcher Freddy Fermin has only four days of MLB service time, but he is one of the better players stuck in Triple-A Omaha. A logjam at catcher makes him expendable if the Royals want to improve in other areas.

The Venezuelan joined the Royals as an international free agent in 2015, and stayed in rookie ball until his Single-A debut in 2019. Since then, he has always been promoted to the next level in the same season and is an Omaha mainstay right now. His arm strength and receiving skills have been a gift to Triple-A pitchers, and he has plenty of experience with many young pitchers in Kansas City.

After making his MLB debut on July 15, 2022, Fermin had a very productive winter. He earned the 2022-2023 MVP honors in the Venezuelan Winter League, and was the league's unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year. His bat exploded down south, with his .404 batting average leading the league and his 1.048 OPS ranking second. The hitting prowess was not terribly surprising after Fermin posted career-highs in home runs, OPS, and hits in 87 Triple-A games.

So, why isn't he in Kansas City? Well, The Royals want to give MJ Melendez more opportunities behind the plate, and veteran Salvador Perez is still a Royals mainstay. That keeps Fermin's options pretty short for the foreseeable future. His ceiling in Kansas City is second-fiddle to at least Melendez if not Perez as well. He did everything he could to make the Opening Day roster in 2023, but the Royals still optioned him back to Omaha. The Royals simply do not have a need for him right now. If another team comes calling and wants Fermin on his own or as a trade sweetener, why say no? The 27-year-old Fermin can likely be a starting option for another desperate team today.

First baseman Nick Pratto

Yah, Royals fans are not going to like this one. But, if the Royals want to make a James Shields-level move, first baseman Nick Pratto is a sensible trade option.

The 24-year-old Pratto lost his prospect status after playing 49 games in Kansas City during the 2022 season. He made his debut during the infamous Toronto series and returned to the major-league club five days later. HE stayed in Kansas City until Sept. 17, when he was optioned back down. Pratto made some Royals history in his debut season, including becoming one of three Royals ever to hit a walk-off home run in their first MLB season. There was a lot of good in his debut season, but awful stretches at the plate called Pratto's progression into question.

The Gold Glove-caliber defense has always been there, and the sensical approach was having Pratto be the first baseman of the future and Vinnie Pasquantino would be the designated hitter. But, Pratto has not adjusted to MLB pitching and didn't give Royals leadership much to be optimistic about. He easily overpowers Triple-A pitchers but struggles in the majors. His latest stint, two games in 2023, saw him strike out four times with only one hit and no walks.

Pratto has the first-round pedigree, power, and defense that many teams could covet. If the Royals do not believe in his long-term future with the team, there is no reason stringing him and fans along. Kansas City has enough needs to address that packaging Pratto and other pieces together could net them a solid veteran return. It is not the ideal end result, but certainly one fans should consider.