​The Kansas City Royals are having a rough 2026 season. At 38-57, they sit 11.5 games back in the AL Central and, even with a weak AL Wild Card field, they’re 9.0 games out and tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the worst record in the league. Given those standings, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Royals become sellers at the trade deadline this summer. If they do move players, anyone who’s slated to hit free agency after 2026 will be a potential target on the market.
One notable name is a $7.5 million reliever the Royals acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal that hasn’t worked out for Kansas City so far. That reliever, Matt Strahm, has recently been highlighted as a “buy low” trade target by Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly. The likelihood is that the Royals will need to move Strahm at a discount this coming offseason, given their struggles this year.
“By the numbers, at 34, he might not be the same pitcher he once was, but a contending club could bring him in and see if there’s still something left to unlock,” Kelly writes. “With the Royals at 37-54, there’s little reason to hang onto Strahm, who is earning $7.5 million in the final year of his contract.”
As Kansas City’s season spirals downward, trading veterans at the deadline becomes a practical option. Strahm, the veteran left-handed reliever, is an obvious trade candidate. He is a free agent after 2026, and though his 5.81 ERA and -0.4 bWAR will depress his trade value, the Royals should still be able to recoup some assets for the former Phillies All-Star.
The Royals previously sent Jonathan Bowlan to Philadelphia to complete the Strahm deal, and while Strahm has struggled, Bowlan has fared better with a 3.14 ERA for the Phillies and has been solid overall. Despite the prior loss in that trade and Strahm’s uneven performance this season, another team should be willing to take a chance on him. Strahm posted a 2.74 ERA in 66 games last season and a 1.87 ERA in 66 games the year before, numbers that suggest there is still some upside to be tapped.
Even if Kansas City doesn’t extract a blockbuster return, any asset acquired for Strahm would likely be worth more than letting him depart as a free agent without a trade. Moving Strahm as a “buy low” target would be disappointing, but it would be the smarter move amid a disastrous 2026 campaign for the Royals.
Additional notes: The trade landscape continues to evolve, with various rumors and hypothetical deals circulating, such as Cubs’ realistic discussions involving Seiya Suzuki and the Mariners, or hypothetical swaps featuring other high-profile players. However, the central thread remains: the Royals’ best path forward this summer is to capitalize on any remaining value in players like Strahm and to stockpile assets for the future. If they decide to shop Strahm, teams will likely be enticed by his track record and the potential upside that still exists, even in a challenging season.