Royals Are Acting Like Sellers but They Won’t Let Go of These Pitchers Cheap

The Kansas City Royals have a 38-55 record and sit 10 games back in the NL Central. They’re 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. By every conventional measure, they’re sellers at the trade deadline. But the Royals aren’t approaching this like a fire sale.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, Kansas City is telling teams they’ll listen on right-handers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. But they’re also making it clear that the asking price is enormous.

“The Royals, according to people briefed on their plans, are telling clubs they will listen on Lugo and Wacha, but their asks will be massive,” Rosenthal and Sammon wrote.

Why the high price tag?

Lugo made the All-Star team in 2024. He’s having a rougher 2026 season with a 4.56 ERA and an 80/32 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But over 11 big league seasons, he’s posted a 3.59 ERA with more than 1,000 strikeouts. Teams still respect the stuff and the track record.

Wacha earned his second All-Star nod in 2026. Over 18 starts this season, he’s sitting on a 3.45 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 18 starts. He’s made 327 career appearances. That kind of durability and consistency doesn’t come cheap on the trade market.

Neither guy is a rental who’ll be let go for a mid-tier prospect. The Royals are treating them like premium assets.

The Athletic also noted that Kansas City was reluctant to move Lugo or Wacha even a month ago. That stance hasn’t changed, despite the fact that only the Los Angeles Angels have a worse record in the American League.

Which teams are circling?

Pitching-needy clubs are lining up. The Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals all make sense as potential suitors. All three could use another arm in the rotation, especially one with postseason experience.

The Braves have dealt with rotation injuries all year. The Cubs are trying to stay in the mix in the NL. The Cardinals are the Cardinals — they always seem to be in the market for veteran pitching.

But anyone who calls the Royals will have to come correct. This isn’t a situation where Kansas City is dumping salary or clearing space. They’re asking for a haul, and they’re fine keeping both guys if nobody meets the price.

That’s the Royals’ leverage. They don’t have to trade either pitcher. And they’re acting like it.