The Kansas City Royals have consistently been one of the weaker teams in MLB over the last few seasons.
They constantly sport a low payroll, opting to not be competitive in the free agent market.
However, the team has a strong crop of young talent coming up.
With these players injecting life into the team, there are a few key moves the Royals could make to be competitive in 2023.
Here are the top two moves they need to make.
2. Sign Jameson Taillon
It is necessary to be realistic about their moves this offseason; the Royals are not projecting themselves to compete in 2023.
Instead, these moves will need to set themselves up for success in two or three years.
As such, picking up an arm like Jameson Taillon could be smart.
Jameson Taillon, Wicked 86mph Slider. 🤢
6th K pic.twitter.com/HhxPWj7Z0v
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 28, 2022
While he hasn’t necessarily been a lights out pitcher, Taillon has been a solid arm in the New York Yankees rotation.
He likely won’t have a huge price tag, and he comes with a lot of upside.
If the Royals could ink him to a multi-year deal, he could become one of the core pieces in a developing rotation.
1. Sign Michael Wacha
The reasoning behind a Michael Wacha signing is similar to that of Taillon’s.
After struggling from 2019-2021, it seems like Wacha may have figured something out on the mound.
Michael Wacha, Wicked 83mph Changeup…Bend the Knee. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/dUIrpXoOyH
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 16, 2022
He posted a 3.32 ERA in a resurgent 2023 campaign, showing that he may still have life left on his career.
However, he shouldn’t cost a lot to prospective teams.
This could allow the Royals to sign him to a cheap, multi-year deal.
If they could get both him and Taillon, they wouldn’t necessarily have an ace for the staff, but they would have solid depth to allow them to compete.
Wacha fits that mold perfectly now, and could help bridge the gap as the Royals develop another contending team for the future.
NEXT: 2 Royals Players Set To Represent Italy In The WBC