Three ideal trade destinations for Royals ace Seth Lugo

The Kansas City Royals have not announced their intention to sell at the July 31 trade deadline; however, the writing is on the wall.

The Royals enter Wednesday with a 39-46 record after a disastrous 8-18 record in June. Although the pitching staff has done its job, an offense that is among the worst in the majors has torpedoed the season. 

The Royals also hold one of the more attractive trade chips. Pitcher Seth Lugo has been excellent this season, posting a 2.74 ERA and a 1.083 WHIP over his 88.2 innings, striking out 76 batters with 28 walks. He could be the type of pitcher a contending team needs in the middle of their rotation.

Let's take a look at three potential landing spots for Lugo as the trade deadline approaches.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs currently hold a two-game lead over the Brewers in the NL Central but have a gaping hole in the rotation. Pitcher Justin Steele underwent elbow surgery in mid-April and is expected to return in the middle of 2026. Meanwhile, pitchers Ben Brown, Colin Rea and Cade Horton have struggled to hold down the fort in the back of the rotation.

According to insider Matthew Trueblood, the Cubs and Royals have had preliminary discussions regarding Lugo. The Cubs have the prospects to get a deal done with four players ranked on MLB.com's top 100 prospects list. Lugo would presumably slot behind Shota Imanaga in the rotation, providing a solid one-two punch over the final few months of the season and into the playoffs.

New York Mets

The Mets' pitching staff has been hammered by injuries this season. Although pitchers Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are expected back in the relatively near future, the Mets depth has taken a drastic hit. Clay Holmes, the default ace of the rotation, has already surpassed his major league high with 88 innings pitched this season.

David Lennon of Newsday suggested on "Baseball Night in New York" that Lugo could be a perfect trade target. Lugo had spent seven years with the Mets, albeit primarily as a reliever. The Mets have World Series aspirations and bringing back a familiar face may give the rotation a needed boost.

New York Yankees

On the surface, the Yankees have a solid rotation, fronted by starters Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt. However, Rodon has been inconsistent of late, allowing 12 runs, 11 earned, in 16 innings before firing six shutout innings on June 24. The Yankees' search for a fifth starter has led to pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Marcus Stroman, both of whom have struggled in with their opportunities.

Lugo would be a stabilizing force in the Yankees rotation, potentially moving Rodon and Schmidt back a spot. After falling short to the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, there is even more pressure to bring a championship back to the Bronx. Lugo could be the missing piece the pitching staff needs.