Royals linked to trade for polarizing Pirates’ 6-foot-7 star with elite power originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Kansas City Royals are in an interesting spot as a franchise, with the team being capable of winning a postseason series or two right now, but also having some uncertain odds for a World Series title.
But if they can make the postseason, anything can happen, especially with Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez at the helm. The offense is in a good spot, but they ideally need another hitter, and ideally a power hitter, to round out the roster.
That’s why Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report linked the Royals to 6-foot-7 elite power hitter Oneil Cruz from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a possible trade this season. Cruz would be a fun pickup for the Royals, as he’d be a huge power upgrade for the KC lineup.
Royals linked to deal for Oneil Cruz
“The Pirates listened to offers for Oneil Cruz last summer, when he was on his way to a second-straight 20-20 season. And now, he looks like a change-of-scenery candidate,” Rymer writes. “Potential landing spots: Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals.”
Cruz had a very rough start to the year for the Pirates, having two brutal misplays on Opening Day that led to Paul Skenes being chased out of the game by the New York Mets in just 0.2 innings of work.
Those issues in center field for Cruz have made him an interesting option to acquire in a trade. If a team can overlook his defensive issues, his hitting prowess would be very tantalizing for a team to add to their lineup.
Last year, he hit 20 home runs and stole 38 bases while hitting .200 with a .676 OPS. His career .736 OPS is not terrible, but it leaves a lot to be desired with his incredible power.
More: Three ways Pirates’ Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
This season, he’s hit three home runs through six games and has been much better offensively than he has been defensively.
For the Royals, adding someone of his caliber to their offense would make a lot of sense, even if the defense isn’t ideal.
They need more power hitting, and with the new Kauffman Stadium dimensions, Cruz might be able to take advantage and clobber many HRs if he’s dealt to the Royals.
Rymer linking the Royals to Cruz makes a ton of sense. He’s 27 years old, under control for the next three seasons, and has incredible potential thanks to his elite power and speed.
If he can make contact a bit more often and also play even just barely below league-average defense, he could be a superstar center fielder that gives the Royals exactly what they’ve been missing.
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