The Kansas City Royals won 86 games and reached the ALDS just one year ago. But this season, the team took a clear step backward, finishing 82–80 and five games short of a Wild Card spot. It was a deeply disappointing end, and they can blame anyone all they want — but considering their pitching injuries, especially in the starting rotation, it was a decent result for a team whose offense simply didn’t put up more of a fight.

Kansas City’s hitters were 22nd in the majors (93 wRC+) with a slashline of .247/.309/.397. You cannot win many games with those numbers, as Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors noted: “Three players made up the majority of that production: Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino. Meanwhile, production at second base and in the outfield left much to be desired thanks to disappointing seasons from players like Jac Caglianone, Jonathan India, and Michael Massey.”

The offense needs a major makeover, but the Royals have no money to spend as the ownership is reluctant to raise the payroll. What happens then, you may ask?

Deeds suggested the Royals have a number of viable starters, like Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, whom they can trade to bring some lineup help and offensive reinforcements this winter. “Kolek and Bergert, meanwhile, are intriguing arms. Acquired from the Padres in the Freddy Fermin trade at this year’s deadline, both Kolek (3.51 ERA in 19 starts) and Bergert (3.86 ERA in 15 starts) pitched like capable mid-rotation arms in part-time roles last year and will still make the league minimum next season,” Deeds wrote.

Additionally, he emphasized, “Virtually any team in baseball would be interested in getting their hands on them, and it’s not at all hard to imagine a team with an excess of interesting young hitters like the Mets, Cubs or Giants being willing to part ways with some of that talent to acquire one of those players.” And it will be a win-win condition for the Royals.

The team is loaded with starters. With Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic returning, they have veteran right-handers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha in the rotation. And if rookie Noah Cameron works as the fifth starter, their rotation would be almost locked in. Behind them, they have formidable depth with Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Bailey Falter, and Kyle Wright. So if the Bergert and Kolek deal happened, it would help to bring some offense into the lineup without giving up any money. But why Bergert-Kolek?

The options that the Royals can look at

Falter, who had a 3.73 ERA in 22 appearances with the Pirates before trading to the Royals in the middle of the season, struggled badly with the Royals. And Wright didn’t throw a single pitch in the last two seasons, and had his best season when he won 21 games with the Atlanta Braves during the 2022 season. So, none of them can add any valuable bat to the lineup.

And there’s another tempting route. The Royals could listen to offers for Kris Bubic, who was amazing in 2025 with a 2.55 ERA and 2.90 FIP in 20 starts and earned an All-Star nod before a rotator cuff strain injury ended his season. But he should be ready for spring training. So, trading him now could bring back a quality everyday regular with many years of control, and this might be the smartest long-term move.

So, at the end, the Royals are in a tough spot and need an offensive makeover. And the RosterResource projected the Royals’ 2026 payroll to be $129M, which means the ownership is unwilling to raise the payroll beyond where it was last year. So, staying competitive with the Tigers and Guardians in the same division and making the most of Bobby Witt Jr.’s time, they must improve their offense, and taking advantage of their super rotation is the best way to accomplish that.