3 Sneaky Royals Targets to Consider Ahead of 2024 MLB Trade Deadline

The Kansas City Royals have been the surprise of the first half of the Major League Baseball season. This is the first season of what they hope will be a long championship window as they continue to surround star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. with a solid core. The problem is, the Royals have just one top-100 prospect, catcher Blake Mitchell, who isn’t expected to make his MLB debut until 2027. The Royals, currently three games out of the final wild-card spot, can improve their playoff chances this season and beyond by making smart picks at the MLB trade deadline. How can Tyler Anderson, Tommy Pham and Michael Conforto help the Royals get to the finish line?

Royals add outfield help

An outfielder who can add a steady bat to the middle of their lineup is exactly what the Royals need to solidify their playoff chances. Tommy Pham of the Chicago White Sox brings a solid glove to their corner outfielders and currently has a higher batting average than any Royals outfielder at .264. The White Sox will be looking for any prospect with a long timetable to start their rebuild and the Royals have plenty of those players.

The return is simple, as Pham is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. He has played in the major leagues over the past few seasons, playing with six different teams since 2021. The Royals should value his playoff experience and keep him beyond 2024, but that doesn’t necessarily matter for the return.

The Royals receive: BY Tommy Pham

The White Sox receive:RHP Chandler Champlain (KC #10)

Gaining more momentum on the field with Michael Conforto

The San Francisco Royals and Giants are tied for the playoffs at the All-Star break: three games behind. The difference in the National League is that the Giants have five teams to fight through to get into position. The Royals only have the Red Sox to eliminate to get to October. With the Giants losing two draft picks in compensation for their offseason signings of Blake Snell and Matt Chapman, they will be looking to bolster their prospect pipeline at the MLB trade deadline. With Michael Conforto set to hit unrestricted free agency, he is the perfect player to cash in on prospects.

Conforto fills that outfield need for the Royals and adds a power hitter in the middle of their lineup. The downside here is the team’s lack of control over his contract. The Royals have traditionally not spent a lot of money on players, but recently reversed that trend with Bobby Witt Jr.’s contract extension. Conforto would be a perfect fit for a team showing they’re taking this window seriously not only in 2024 but beyond. The return is easy because of his impending free agency. With Mitchell as the catcher of the future and Salvador Perez continuing to work his way back, they can part with a catcher prospect. The Giants don’t have a catcher prospect in their top 20, so Carter Jensen presents a need.

The Royals receive: BY Michael Conforto

The giants receive:C Carter Jensen (KC #9)

Add a starter with control

Outside of the outfield, the Royals’ starting rotation has been solid this season, but if given an opportunity to improve, they should take it. That opportunity could come with the Los Angeles Angels and their left-handed starting pitcher Tyler Anderson. With Michael Wacha holding a player option this offseason and three other starting pitchers headed to arbitration, another starting pitcher is essential. The Angels will look to shed the starting pitcher with an extra year of team control to replenish their pool and make room for a few pitchers who are knocking on the door.

The Angels are going to be a tougher deal for Anderson because of team control. Looking at their prospect pool, there aren’t many position players who can come in and help the team soon. With Mike Trout still in top form, those players should be the priority in any trade they make. Both players heading their way in this deal are set to arrive in 2025.

The Royals receive:Left-handed Tyler Anderson

Angels receive:Flying Gavin Cross (KC #6), INF Javier Vaz (KC #14)

The Royals are in a great position to try to make the playoffs in the second half of the season. However, they will need reinforcements at the MLB trade deadline to do so.