Ranking the KC Royals biggest trade pieces (and three partners for each)

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The KC Royals have been quiet so far this offseason, but hopefully, that will change shortly. After an unknown stomach virus caused the MLB general manager meetings to end prematurely, the hot stove cooled around the league. But there was some important trade work done in those three days, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

“This is an information-gathering situation,” one AL executive said. “Everybody is just starting to get a feel for which players could be available, what teams might be looking for and so on. But for some trades that happen later in the winter, invariably some groundwork for those moves will likely have been laid here this week.”

How will the KC Royals use trades this offseason to shape the 2024 roster?

That offers me some hope, looking at a Royals team that may not be massive buyers in the free agent market. The team has several needs to address after the 2023 season, and trades can help the situation. They can either provide that help immediately or clear the way for help in some other form or fashion. I feel like trades need to be leveraged if the Royals want to move on from several players that do not fit their current mold, so to speak.

The trade debate surrounding Salvador Perez will continue, with or without renewed rumors. He is not the only player Kansas City could move this offseason, though. Let's take a look at three other players and some trade partners around the MLB.

Could the KC Royals move on from Brady Singer?

At the virus-shortened general manager meetings this winter, the Royals pitching staff was one of J.J. Picollo's top priorities. Picollo said the team has "got to get depth with our pitching," with an emphasis on starting pitching over the bullpen.

"Who knows where the market will go, but the priority is going to be on the starting pitching, and then piece the bullpen together," Picollo said.

There are more questions than answers in the Royals rotation, and Brady Singer's future remains uncertain. His 2022 performance made him look like the Royals drafted him to be. But he took a big step backward in 2023. Between the quizzical pitch usage, surrendering hard contact, and the strikeout rate regression, what is Singer in 2024?

The value he has is undeniable, though. The 27-year-old righty has three years remaining of team control with traits some teams covet. The starting pitching options in free agency this offseason are not great. The market that Picollo spoke of could make trades more beneficial for teams, buyers and sellers alike.

There are only a handful of Royals players who should be considered off-limits. Singer is not one of them. If a team comes knocking for him, the front office needs to be listening. Should they move Singer for pennies on the dollar? No, but if another team comes with a proper offer, Kansas City should make the deal happen.

Trade partners: Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles

The KC Royals trading Maikel Garcia is unlikely, but still needs to be noted.

Stick with me on this one. Maikel Garcia was absolutely the Royals' rookie of the year. He came to Kansas City, saved fans from seeing more of Hunter Dozier, and played insanely good defense outside his natural position. But it is the fact that he is playing out of position that makes him a trade candidate for me.

Garcia's glove at third and Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop formed arguably the best defensive duo in the American League. Both of them ranked in the MLB's top-12 for Outs Above Average, but don't remind the Gold Glove voters that. Garcia, a natural shortstop, made a seamless transition to third base. But if another team needs a shortstop, would they go after Garcia? I think so.

There is a rising wave of young shortstops around the MLB. There are also contending teams that may be impatient with their options for the position. Desperation and a ticking clock can make teams do surprising things, and moving quality prospects for Garcia would be one.

A moment of bluntness here. I am worried, to a fault, that Garcia has a similar trajectory to Nicky Lopez. Some of the metrics between Garcia's 2023 season and Lopez's quality 2021 season are eerily similar. But I admit that Garcia's hard-hit rate (ranked in the 94th percentile) and chase rate (ranked in the 89th percentile) are light years ahead of Lopez's in their respective seasons. Garcia is still growing, and working on his launch angle will greatly increase his production at the plate. He is not a core lock for me yet, but he can quickly get there.

All that being said, Garcia would have value in a poor free agent market. The Royals are not likely to move him, but they should consider it if an overwhelming offer comes in.

Trade partners: San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies

Nick Pratto has a deep hole to climb from with the KC Royals.

This is the only roster-clearing trade on this list. I am sure that Garcia and Singer will be on the Royals Opening Day roster if they are healthy and not traded. I cannot say the same thing for first baseman Nick Pratto.

Pratto had a rough 2023 season and the clock is ticking on the 25-year-old. He started off the season with an amazing 30-game stretch but then failed to make meaningful contact and struck out at an absurd rate. His 40% strikeout rate ranked second-worst among qualified MLB players this season.

His 79 wRC+ came with an above-average .388 BABIP, suggesting Pratto struggled despite having some luck on his side. Unlike Garcia, there are not any supporting metrics to say PRatto will get better with some simple adjustments.

Kansas City feels flush with first basemen, or players who can fill in as needed. Nick Loftin, Perez, and Logan Porter are just some of the players who can fill in behind Vinnie Pasquantino if needed. Pratto saw plenty of action in 2023, but the bad outweighed the good. He had a chance, with Pasquantino injured, to show he could be an every-day MLB first baseman in Kansas City. That is not the case anymore.

There are some teams around the league that need more depth at first base, and Pratto can provide that. A team's coaching staff may be able to address the strikeout issues or his woeful defense and make him a contributor. The prospect return would not be massive, but it would give Kansas City some breathing space on the 40-man roster and in the depth chart.

Trade partners: Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs

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