The Kansas City Royals are entering a phase of rebuilding and are expected to trade several players, particularly in the reliever market. Aroldis Chapman, Scott Barlow, and Taylor Clarke are mentioned as potential trade chips generating interest. The team is open to trading players on expiring contracts, such as Chapman and Clarke, as well as pitchers Amir Garrett and Brad Keller if they can recover from their injuries in time.
While the Royals are hesitant to trade away their young core players like Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, Maikel Garcia, Brady Singer, and Daniel Lynch, the general manager acknowledges that no player is completely off the table. The team is looking to build a roster that can compete in their division and is open to listening to trade offers that can make them better.
In terms of potential trades, the Royals are looking for talent that can contribute to the big league team in the near future. They want to capitalize on their current Major League team and add pieces that can help them compete at a higher level. This could involve acquiring both Major League-ready players and quality prospects who can strengthen their farm system.
While the Royals are open to making trades at any time, they are aware that the longer they wait, the more desperate contending teams might become. Therefore, they are considering making deals sooner rather than later if the right opportunities arise.
Overall, the Royals are in a selling mode and looking to trade players on expiring contracts while also considering offers for other players on their roster. They are focused on acquiring talent that can help them compete both in the short term and in the future.
