With the trade deadline passing the Royals were active on the trade market this year making four trades so like we have done in years past it’s time to rank the moves made.
4. Hunter Harvey from Washington for Cayden Wallace.
The first trade of the year this year is lowest ranked on this list not for Harvey, but for what the Royals gave up. Cayden Wallace was the future franchise third baseman for the Royals and could have been brought up next year. For the production that Harvey had shown before the trade and has shown since joining the Royals the price was too high even with the years of control.
3. Paul Dejong from the White Sox for Jarold Rosado
The final trade the Royals made before the deadline is the most puzzling. Dejong is a Shortstop something that the Royals have no weakness in with Bobby Witt Jr in that spot. DeJong however was brought in for his power as he has hit 18 home runs this year. A clear bench player for the Royals going forward this year the price was a single A ball pitcher who is years down the line. Not the worst price for what will be a rental piece in DeJong.
2. Michael Lorenzen from Texas for Walter Pennington
Congrats Lorenzen you’ve made it to the top half of this list. Not that tall of a task given the length of this list however a move to help bolster the starting rotation is always a welcome thing. More so with a former all-star who is still a solid arm. Boasting a 3.81 ERA this year in 19 starts Lorenzen is a good addition as either the fifth starter or in the bullpen. The downside is twofold however one Lorenzen is a UFA after this season and two Royals gave up a pitcher who could've been part of the September call-ups this year in Pennington who has seen the MLB level before as he made an appearance of no hit no run 0.2 innings with a strikeout this year. Lorenzen is the right move as he can help the Royals more than Pennington could and the Rangers are paying him two-thirds of his contract.
1. Lucas Erceg from Oakland for Will Klein, Jared Dickey, and Mason Barnett
By far the best trade the Royals made this year, Erceg had taken over closing duties in Oakland after Mason Miller was hurt. In that time, he proved that he was not only a good set-up man, but could also close out games as well. The bigger reason this is the best trade is that Erceg is under club control until 2027 when he hits arbitration and won’t be a free agent until 2030. A massive get for JJ Picolo even with what was sent for Erceg. Klein had been struggling in the bullpen this year but still has shown flashes here and there. Dickey was several years away from even sniffing the Majors. The one that hurts the most is Mason Barnett as he along with Frank Mozzicato and Ben Kudrna were the best arms the Royals have coming up. Erceg is worth the price and will make an impact as soon as he comes to Kansas City.
Overall, I do believe that these trades were a betterment of the Royals as a whole, and am hopeful and excited for the conclusion of this year. More so because at the start of the year, I picked the Royals to go 60 and 102 and still win the division.
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