The Royals appear revitalized lately. Their 1-0 extra-innings win over the Braves capped off a 4-2 homestand, marked their third consecutive series win, and brought their July record to an impressive 15-9.
Although the game highlighted their ongoing need for offensive support—and with several outfielders reportedly on their radar—manager Matt Quatraro’s pregame comments on Wednesday hinted that the team’s trade interests might extend beyond just the offense or outfield.
When discussing the weekend’s starting rotation plans, Quatraro’s remarks suggested that Kansas City could also be eyeing upgrades in the starting pitching department.
Royals might be on trade watch for starting pitching ahead of Thursday’s deadline
When discussing the weekend rotation plans for the upcoming series in Toronto, Noah Cameron’s potential availability for Saturday was brought up.
According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, manager Matt Quatraro said the standout rookie is “completely available” for Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays, but added that several factors are still in play.
“We can still pivot depending on matchups, how we get through today, and what happens at the deadline,” Quatraro told Rogers. “There’s a lot that could still unfold.”
As it turns out, the bullpen was efficient in Thursday’s 10-inning shutout, meaning no relievers were overly taxed—keeping options open for the weekend.
Rogers outlined three possible takeaways from Quatraro’s comments. First, Cameron might just be the starter on Saturday, and the team is weighing all scenarios before committing. Second, with only three starters currently on the roster, the Royals could be looking to reduce their reliance on bullpen games.
But the third—and most intriguing—possibility is that Kansas City could be eyeing a trade for a starting pitcher ahead of the deadline.
It’s no secret that the Royals’ rotation is in disarray. Cole Ragans has been out since June, and both Michael Lorenzen and Kris Bubic landed on the IL after the All-Star break.
Veteran Rich Hill was given a chance to patch the hole in the rotation, and while his Royals debut was serviceable, he was designated for assignment Tuesday after a poor second outing.
Other internal options exist, like recently promoted Thomas Hatch and several Triple-A pitchers. But those choices include inconsistent veterans like Dallas Keuchel, long-term injury returnees like Kyle Wright, or inexperienced prospects like Luinder Avila.
Given how quickly Hill’s opportunity fell apart, it makes sense that the Royals front office might be reluctant to rely on another short-term gamble—prompting a possible push to acquire a more dependable arm via trade.
This isn’t the first time Kansas City has been tied to trade deadline pitching help. Last week, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Royals would “likely pursue pitching help.”
Whether general manager J.J. Picollo and his staff actually pull the trigger on a deal remains to be seen—but it’s clearly a situation Royals fans should keep a close eye on as the deadline approaches.
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