MLB Trade Deadline: What KC Royals fans need to know

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The KC Royals launched the second half of their turnaround season Friday night by beating American League Central rival Chicago 7-1, then guaranteed themselves nothing worse than a series win by waltzing past the White Sox 6-1 Saturday evening. And on both nights, they received boosts to their playoff hopes via games over which they had absolutely no control.

The first boost came Friday when Freddie Freeman, walked intentionally to load the bases just moments before, drilled Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino's second pitch over the right field fence at Dodger Stadium to give Los Angeles a 4-1 lead and, ultimately, a series-opening win over the Red Sox. The less dramatic second came Saturday when LA tied the Red Sox in the ninth and 10th innings, then beat them in the 11th; combined with Kansas City's wins, the two Dodger victories moved the Royals within a percentage point of Boston in the fight for the American League's third Wild Card spot.

Help is a good thing, but the KC Royals need more than that

It may not prove decisive at season's end, but the kind of help the Dodgers gave Kansas City will be welcome down the stretch as the club tries to reach postseason play for the first time since it won the 2015 World Series. But the Royals need to rely primarily on themselves if they're to achieve that goal — getting help like the Dodgers gave them Friday and Saturday is nice, but they won't be playing October baseball if they don't win their own games.

And improve their roster. The starting rotation and defense may be good enough, but KC's outfield bats need to get better, and the bullpen may require more help than recent trade acquisition Hunter Harvey can provide by himself.

In other words, general manager J.J. Picollo can't let this summer's fast-approaching trade deadline pass without making a move, or two or three, to bolster his club's chances to still be playing baseball when September gives way to October.

Here's what to know as trade season picks up...

When is the 2024 MLB trade deadline?

This season's deal deadline is July 30 at 5 p.m. Kansas City (Central) time. All trades must be completed by that hour, and none will be allowed at the major league level after that time. Clubs can't trade major leaguers — or players on their 40-man rosters — even if they clear waivers. So if Picollo intends to make big league trades, he now has a little over a week to get them done.

Can the waiver wire still be used to move players after the deadline?

Yes. The trade deadline doesn't strictly apply to waivers. Teams can still place their big leaguers on waivers — they just can't then trade a player who no one claims, and can't collaborate with another club to use the wire to disguise what would otherwise be considered a trade.

Trades of non-40-man roster minor leaguers are also allowed.

Does the MLB trade deadline affect players' postseason eligibility?

It does, but only to the extent that players acquired by the deadline qualify for playoff roster eligibility. The Royals can't put any of their players on any postseason roster unless they were members of the organization as of Aug. 31 at 10:59 p.m. CDT.

Moving on...

Who might the KC Royals be willing to trade?

Willingness is certainly a consideration, but who the Royals must move to get what they want is the controlling factor. Potential trade partners won't become actual partners unless Picollo offers what they need in return, and what those clubs require may not be what Kansas City's GM prefers to give up. But he won't get what he needs without surrendering value.

So, the better question is this: who in the Royals organization might other general managers target?

Don't look for any team to mention Bobby Witt Jr. — he's absolutely untouchable, and everyone knows it. Other clubs will, however, ask about Salvador Perez, and Picollo may listen — after all, he acknowledged last August he considered moving Perez as the 2023 deadline approached. Given the current state of the Royal offense, though, Perez, who's cooled off since his hot start but is still hitting .280, boasts a .342 OBP, and is tied with Witt for the club's home run lead with 17, is too much a price for Picollo to pay with a playoff spot on the line.

Other teams are sure to mention Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, but Picollo won't seriously entertain trading either of his best two starters, and probably isn't at all inclined to trade any other members of the rotation. He could be reluctant to deal any of the current 26-man roster, but may have to.

Most likely to be traded by Kansas City are minor league prospects. The Royals' farm system isn't packed with valuable trade pieces, but some of their minor leaguers could be on the block, with Triple-A players Walter Pennington, Daniel Lynch IV, Nick Pratto, Nelson Velázquez, Tyler Gentry, Nate Eaton, Anthony Veneziano, and Will Klein all coming to mind. Don't expect Picollo to give any thought to trading Blake Mitchell, the organization's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, or recent top KC draft pick Jac Caglianone.

Keep an eye on this space for trade deadline news as it develops.

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