Kansas City Royals News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Royals’ biggest mistake after 2026 MLB trade deadline

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Royals’ biggest mistake after 2026 MLB trade deadline

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints | Last updated Aug 5, 2026 4:01 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The Kansas City Royals are well out of the American League Wild Card race as August begins. Just two years after making the postseason, they are tumbling into another season of mediocrity. The Royals sold some pieces at the MLB trade deadline, but held onto starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. Keeping both of those pitchers was a mistake Kansas City could not afford to make.

The Royals made two trades, giving up a total of three players, in the days leading up to the deadline. They sent center fielder Lane Thomas and pitcher Bailey Falter to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. On Monday, they dealt pitcher Kris Bubic to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They got three pitching prospects back in those trades.

But for the Royals to compete in the American League Central soon, they need some more reinforcements coming through the pipeline. Lugo is 36, and Wacha is 35, so they won’t be leveling up to lead the Royals’ rotation anytime soon. Plus, there were not many pitchers with playoff experience dealt. They could have added many more prospects to their pipeline by trading the veterans.

The New York Yankees did not add a pitcher despite saying they needed a bullpen arm. Lugo would have been a great fit for the Bombers, as they could use a starter now, but need a bullpen arm long-term. Lugo has a history in the bullpen with the New York Mets, and the Yankees could have paid up to make this move.

The Royals were not going to get George Lombard Jr or Carlos LaGrange from the Yankees for Lugo, but they could have nabbed a solid prospect like Bryce Cunningham or Kyle Carr. Those names may not excite Kansas City fans, but they would fit the timeline better than Lugo.

What is next for the Royals?

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

This season is over for the Royals, as the deep American League Wild Card race is running away from them. After an 81-81 season last year, they stumbled out of the gates in 2026 and never got up. But with one of the best players in baseball on one of the best contracts in the league, Bobby Witt Jr at $26.2 million per year through at least 2030, they need to hit the gas.

Next offseason is a massive unknown across baseball. With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire, the business of baseball could change dramatically before the 2027 season starts. They don’t have the roster space to bring in pitchers now, which they could afford if the salary structure changes.

The Royals have the cornerstone piece that every franchise vies for on their roster and under contract. Taking advantage of Witt’s prime is key for Kansas City moving forward, no matter what the next CBA looks like. A poor season from Vinnie Pasquantino and an injury to Cole Ragans did not help this season, but just those pieces won’t fix everything.

Kansas City made the playoffs in 2024 partly because they were in the same division with the 121-loss Chicago White Sox. They joined the Tigers and Guardians in the postseason that year out of the AL Central, but it was the Yankees that made the World Series. They could not ride the momentum from upsetting the Baltimore Orioles that year into the following seasons. Now, they have reached a crossroads with their pitching staff.

The Royals are 20 games under .500, which will demand massive changes in the offseason. Their lack of pitching moves at the deadline could handcuff them in the winter when they will desperately need a new starter. Could the right moves push them to the playoffs in 2027?

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: