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Departing with Thomas could give the Royals more prospect capital.
As the MLB trade deadline approaches early next week, the Kansas City Royals have already set their stance on an approach for the upcoming busy week.
While Kansas City may have not made their definitive approach vocal just yet, their record does tell as to how they will surely handle the trade season. The Royals have had a strong reputation of selling talent when they are trending towards a losing season, a familiar sight of what is likely to come.
With a record of 46-63, the Royals sit towards the bottom of the ranks across the league. They have a handful of players near the end of their contracts that have contributed in a down year, as some will surely get to see a new light with a different team very soon.
One of those players should be outfielder Lane Thomas, who presents himself as an enticing trade candidate ahead of the deadline to bring the Royals some prospect capital.
Thomas’ role for the Royals has been more of an enlarged one than the role he would likely get with a new team. He has been a consistent starter in the outfield, spending most of his time at center field and right field.
However, one tool from his overall profile stands out most to contenders. Thomas boasts the ability to hit left-handers at a plus level, in a way that could fill an outfield platoon role nearly perfectly for a team in search of a right-handed bat.
This season, Thomas has posted a .230 batting average with 10 homers and a 0.8 fWAR. Both numbers do not necessarily jump out of the stat sheets, but when considering Thomas in a potential platoon role, his talent could be maximized.
Against left-handed pitching, Thomas owns a .260 batting average, as he typically hits towards the top of the Royals’ order on starts against southpaws. He also tends to strike out less and walk more against lefties.
Many contenders are looking to add to what is already an established roster, or find a boost at a certain position. Thomas provides a team with a right-handed bat that plays the entirety of the outfield, specializing at the plate against left-handers.
A potential move would be familiar for the 30-year-old. Thomas was sent to the Cleveland Guardians from the Washington Nationals at the 2024 trade deadline.
Thomas struggled in his Cleveland tenure, but did come up huge in the 2024 postseason, when he notably hit a grand slam in Game 5 of the ALDS off of Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal.
That moment indicated why the Guardians traded for Thomas in the first place — to hit left-handers and platoon in the outfield.
Kansas City has an opportunity to deepen their farm system if they were to send Lane Thomas to a contender — and they absolutely should. The New York Yankees have been recently named as a suitor for Thomas, with the deadline only five days away.
Continue reading...
As the MLB trade deadline approaches early next week, the Kansas City Royals have already set their stance on an approach for the upcoming busy week.
While Kansas City may have not made their definitive approach vocal just yet, their record does tell as to how they will surely handle the trade season. The Royals have had a strong reputation of selling talent when they are trending towards a losing season, a familiar sight of what is likely to come.
With a record of 46-63, the Royals sit towards the bottom of the ranks across the league. They have a handful of players near the end of their contracts that have contributed in a down year, as some will surely get to see a new light with a different team very soon.
One of those players should be outfielder Lane Thomas, who presents himself as an enticing trade candidate ahead of the deadline to bring the Royals some prospect capital.
Thomas’ role for the Royals has been more of an enlarged one than the role he would likely get with a new team. He has been a consistent starter in the outfield, spending most of his time at center field and right field.
However, one tool from his overall profile stands out most to contenders. Thomas boasts the ability to hit left-handers at a plus level, in a way that could fill an outfield platoon role nearly perfectly for a team in search of a right-handed bat.
This season, Thomas has posted a .230 batting average with 10 homers and a 0.8 fWAR. Both numbers do not necessarily jump out of the stat sheets, but when considering Thomas in a potential platoon role, his talent could be maximized.
Against left-handed pitching, Thomas owns a .260 batting average, as he typically hits towards the top of the Royals’ order on starts against southpaws. He also tends to strike out less and walk more against lefties.
Many contenders are looking to add to what is already an established roster, or find a boost at a certain position. Thomas provides a team with a right-handed bat that plays the entirety of the outfield, specializing at the plate against left-handers.
A potential move would be familiar for the 30-year-old. Thomas was sent to the Cleveland Guardians from the Washington Nationals at the 2024 trade deadline.
Thomas struggled in his Cleveland tenure, but did come up huge in the 2024 postseason, when he notably hit a grand slam in Game 5 of the ALDS off of Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal.
That moment indicated why the Guardians traded for Thomas in the first place — to hit left-handers and platoon in the outfield.
Kansas City has an opportunity to deepen their farm system if they were to send Lane Thomas to a contender — and they absolutely should. The New York Yankees have been recently named as a suitor for Thomas, with the deadline only five days away.
Continue reading...
