Royals not inclined to move starters Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo at trade deadline

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Jul 17, 2026

Published in Baseball

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The Kansas City Royals have made their stance clear regarding veteran starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo ahead of Major League Baseball’s Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Teams interested in either player’s services should know the Royals have attached a hefty price tag to both.

“I think the general thought is it’s going to have to be very enticing for us,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said Friday of potential offers, “because those two guys, we’re going to count on.”

Wacha has a 3.77 ERA and leads the American League with 119 1/3 innings pitched. He was a 2026 All-Star alongside teammate Bobby Witt Jr.

Lugo, meanwhile, is a past All-Star who has a 4.56 ERA in 19 starts in 2026.

Beyond simple statistics, the Royals have multiple reasons to keep their standout pitchers. A big rationale is the financial commitment the organization has made to both players.

Wacha is due $14 million in 2027 and has a club option — also worth $14 million — for 2028. His contract includes a $1 million buyout as well, per Spotrac.

Lugo is set to make $21.5 million next season. He, too, has a conditional club option for 2028, worth $17 million. Lugo’s contract also includes a possible $3 million buyout.

Both Lugo and Wacha will hit unrestricted free agency in 2029, and that’s why the Royals see value in retaining them. They provide veteran leadership and are key pieces to their current foundation.

“We’ll be open-minded to anything,” Picollo said. “But we have to be very, very pointed on what we want to get out of any one of those two. And it’s also, they made a commitment to us, and that’s big. And I think that’s important to the morale of the team.”

The Royals are evaluating their starting rotation. Top lefty Cole Ragans recently underwent UCL surgery and is expected to miss significant time next season.

Meanwhile, left-handed starter Kris Bubic is scheduled to hit free agency at the end of this season. He is currently sidelined with left-shoulder soreness.

It’s possible the Royals will enter the 2027 season without either of those two players, Ragans or Bubic, ready to pitch in games.

That’s another prime reason Wacha and Lugo are considered so valuable. They’re dependable starters in a rotation that otherwise includes some question marks and less-experienced pitchers.

The Royals are counting on right-handers Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek and lefty Noah Cameron to eat up some innings during the season’s second half. All three are still developing at the big-league level, however, and there isn’t much depth behind them.

Picollo wants to re-stock KC’s farm system with MLB-ready arms. But the Royals also need Wacha and Lugo to field a full starting rotation in 2027.

“Guys that can eat up innings for you, and you can rely on every fifth day, they mean a lot to a clubhouse,” Picollo said. “You know, they’re the guys that allow your bullpen to be better off.

“Whether they pitch well or not, they know how to get through six or seven innings on good nights and bad nights. That helps our bullpen.”

It’s likely teams will be inquiring about both Wacha and Lugo. Teams competing for a wild-card spot no doubt could use the help.

So far, the pool of pitchers considered trade candidates includes Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers), Sonny Gray (Boston Red Sox) and Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins), among others.

Picollo will listen if another organization calls about Lugo or Wacha, but the price tag will be steep.

“You have two guys that have done what they’ve done in their careers and they want to be here,” Picollo said. “With that said, if teams want to talk about them, it’s never going to hurt to at least listen. And I think those guys understand that.”

For now, the Royals are focused on having a better second half of the season. They were 38-59 — last place in the American League Central — entering Friday evening’s series opener against the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium.

Picollo indicated the Royals aren’t planning a massive fire sale. Still, it’s possible he could offload a few expiring contracts and find some tangible minor-league depth in return.

The club’s goal is to still compete this year with a focus on the future.

“I think in the moment, right now, we still believe that’s going to be our best way to go,” Picollo said. “It’s just to be open-minded, you know, try to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way. And keep in mind, we do have a core that’s here that we feel like we can build around it.”