The Royals wish to add a right-handed hitter, reviews Jayson Stark of the Athletic (through Ken Rosenthal’s newest column). The Angels’ Luis Rengifo and Taylor Ward are into account, as is Washington’s Lane Thomas.
Rengifo is a switch-hitter who does extra harm from the best aspect. Ward and Thomas are strictly right-handed bats. Rengifo is probably the most precious of the trio. He’s having the very best season of the group and offers probably the most defensive flexibility. Rengifo isn’t an important defender however he can bounce between second and third base and moonlight at shortstop. He wouldn’t want to fret concerning the latter place in Kansas Metropolis. The Royals have gotten little or no offense out of Maikel Garcia on the scorching nook. Lefty-swinging second baseman Michael Massey was taking part in effectively early within the season earlier than slumping this month.
The 27-year-old Rengifo could be a big offensive improve. He goes into play tonight with a .308/.352/.432 slash throughout 285 plate appearances. It’s his second straight above-average offensive efficiency. Rengifo makes a ton of contact, becoming the Royals’ normal fashion of hitter. He topped 15 homers in each 2022 and ’23. This yr’s manufacturing has been extra OBP-oriented as he has reduce his strikeout price to a personal-low 13% clip. Over the previous two and a half seasons, he owns a large .328/.368/.555 slash towards left-handed pitching.
Thomas and Ward have a extra restricted defensive profile as nook outfielders. The Royals might definitely look to improve in left discipline, the place MJ Melendez was underperforming earlier than touchdown on the injured listing. Thomas is likely to be extra of a platoon goal. He mashes southpaws however posts below-average numbers towards same-handed pitching. Since touchdown in Washington on the 2021 commerce deadline, he has tattooed lefties at a .310/.371/.525 clip. He’s hitting .231/.294/.398 versus righties in that point. Thomas has had equally stark splits this season and has a league common .247/.323/.397 slash in combination.
Ward has appeared like an All-Star caliber participant at his greatest, highlighted by a .281/.360/.473 season two years in the past. His manufacturing has been extra pedestrian over the previous season and a half, as his line has hovered round league common. Over 424 plate appearances this yr, the previous first-round decide has a .226/.309/.396 line. As with Thomas, Ward does an inordinate quantity of his harm with the platoon benefit. He’s hitting .294/.365/.468 towards lefties because the begin of 2022. His .243/.328/.423 slash versus right-handed pitching over that stretch is extra stable than elite.
All three gamers are underneath workforce management past this season. (Anne Rogers of MLB.com tweeted this afternoon that the Royals could be reluctant to relinquish gamers on the high of their skinny farm system for leases.) Rengifo and Thomas are eligible for arbitration via subsequent yr, whereas Ward is controllable till the 2026-27 offseason. They’re every equally pricey from a monetary perspective. Rengifo’s the lowest-paid of the group at $4.4MM, whereas Thomas is most costly at $5.45MM. The prospect value needs to be highest for Rengifo, who’ll have broad enchantment in a market that’s very mild on infield expertise.
