The Royals 2025 season has not gone as they surely hoped it would after they surprised the baseball world with a playoff berth in 2024 and invested heavily into the team over the offseason. While they entered June over .500, a brutal 8-18 swoon last month left the team very abruptly buried in the AL playoff picture. Their 40-47 record leaves them with a 14-game deficit in the AL Central that already seems all but impo sible to overcome, and even their Wild Card positioning leaves them 5.5 games Quinn Hughes Jersey back of a playoff spot. A rotator cuff strain sidelined last month, and the lo s of the clubs lefty ace will make it even harder for them to turn things around. All of that has left the Royals looking like a potential deadline seller. A closer look at the clubs roster reveals very few short-term a sets who would bring back a significant haul on the trade market, however. is injured, while and have both been well below average hitters this year. That leaves right-hander as the only player on the roster who can depart for free agency this winter who could bring back a notable return for the Royals. Theres few contenders who wouldnt benefit from adding Lugo to their rotation. The right-hander was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young award last year with a dominant season, and hes kept the good times rolling in 2025 with a sparkling 2.74 ERA in 15 starts. Thats the sort of front-of-the-rotation, surefire playoff starter that contenders dream of adding to their rotation mix, at least on paper. If Lugo could bring back an exciting return for the Royals, particularly an MLB-ready return, then it could make sense to sell the righty in order to maximize the 2026-30 seasons, after which point superstar will have his first opportunity to opt-out of his extension and test free agency. As clearcut as the argument for dealing Lugo may sound, however, there are real reasons to think the Royals may hesitate. For one thing, a monster return for Lugo is hardly guaranteed. As strong as his raw run prevention numbers have been this year, his peripherals tell a different story. The veterans strikeout rate has ticked slightly downward, his walk rate has jumped up to 8.0% after sitting at 5.6% last year, and his otherworldly ability to keep the ball in the park last year appears to have been a single-season mirage. With a 4.18 FIP and 4.10 SIERA, its po sible rival clubs will value Lugo as more of a mid-rotation starter than a recent Cy Young candidate. His value is further decreased by the $15MM player option he holds for the 2026 season. Thats a figure Lugo would certainly be able to beat in free agency if healthy, meaning that hes very likely to opt out unle s he suffers an injury, at which point the acquiring club would be on the hook for the full price and likely get minimal production. Similar contractual situations have caused i sues in trade talks in the past. Both the Cubs and Yankees have entertained trade offers on in recent years but found difficulties getting much of a market for his services due to poison pill contract options, and even future Hall of Famer had to waive his ability to opt out of the 2024 campaign for the Rangers to be willing to acquire him from the Mets during the summer of 2023. Its not at all difficult to believe interested teams could have similar reservations regarding Lugo. If the return for Lugo isnt robust, its not hard to imagine the Royals just keeping the veteran. While Witt is young and under long-term control, other pieces of the clubs core like , , and arent exactly getting any younger. Even younger players like and arent far from the end of their team control windows, and that could leave the Royals motivated to try to make the 2026 season count. Keeping Lugo in the fold would help that goal, and while its typically unlikely for a small market club to keep a star player in free agency, that may not be the case in this instance. With Lugo eligible for the Qualifying Offer this winter, its not impo sible to imagine him either sticking around on that one-year pact if its offered to him or the sides using it as a jumping off point to work out an extension. The Royals typically wouldnt be expected to have the sort of financial muscle needed to retain a pitcher of Lugos caliber, but the veteran turns 36 this November and would likely be limited to short-term offers in free agency even if he isnt attached to the Qualifying Offer. Should Kansas City extend him the QO, it could further depre s his ability to land a big contract. If the Royals like their odds of keeping Lugo around after this year, it would be understandable if they decided not to trade him. How do MLBTR readers think the Royals will ultimately handle Lugo? Will he be traded this summer, or will they hold onto him and hope to keep him around longer term? Have your say in the poll below: Is Seth Lugo Going To Be Traded This Summer? Yes 63.57% (1,361votes) No 36.43% (780votes) Total Votes: 2,141 Jim Benning Jersey