The Kansas City Royals are looking to build on their 2024 turnaround and have been linked as a top landing spot for an eight-time All-Star slugger.
As amazing as it may seem, Matt Snyder of CBS Sports tabs the small-market Royals as a prime landing spot for current St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The Royals pulled off an amazing turnaround in 2024, surging from 106 losses the previous season to go 86-76, take second in the American League Central, and qualify for the Major League Baseball playoffs.
However, Spotrac projects Kansas City's 2025 payroll at a scant $107.8 million.
Arenado is under contract through 2027 on an eight-year, $260 million deal he signed before the Colorado Rockies traded him to St. Louis before the 2021 season.
The Cardinals would likely have to eat a good chunk of what's owed to the 33-year-old to facilitate a move across Missouri to Kansas City. That might seem antithetical to St. Louis reportedly looking to clear salary as part of a hope-for rapid rebuild.
Arenado showed signs of his possible decline in 2024 after hitting just 16 home runs — his fewest in a full season since his rookie campaign of 2013 — and also failing to win a Gold Glove Award for the second-straight season after winning the defensive honor in each of his first ten big-league seasons.
However, a playoff-tested veteran influence in the clubhouse who can still put up solid offensive and defensive efforts could be exactly what Kansas City is looking for heading into 2025.
The Royals already pulled off one trade this winter, acquiring second baseman Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Brady Singer last week. Acquiring Arenado would be a definite upgrade over current third-sacker Maikel Garcia, who hit just .231 last season.
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