1 Player Building Trade Value Despite Kansas City Royals' Struggles
This Royals player could be a valuable trade candidate.
The Kansas City Royals have underperformed so far during the 2026 MLB season. At 20-30, Kansas City is in fourth place in the American League Central standings. They are currently nine games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central division.
Regardless of whether or not they bounce back soon, the Royals probably will not enter a full rebuild before the trade deadline. They feature no shortage of young talent and the future is bright. With that being said, they could look to trade some veterans away for prospects.
One player who could be moved is Starling Marte. The Royals signed Marte to a one-year contract for the 2026 campaign. The 37-year-old veteran may not be the same player he once was, but Marte still provides legitimate value.
It is worth mentioning that he has only appeared in 21 games as of this story's publication. During that span, however, the veteran outfielder is hitting . 294/.