At the Winter Meetings, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo was confident with the offers he had on the table.
The Royals were in the market for an outfield bat. There were multiple avenues at Picollo’s disposal to improve the club. And on Sunday, Picollo swung a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire two players.
KC added outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears in exchange for left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa.
“We were in the market for an outfield bat, and you know, through our process we started having conversations with Milwaukee,” Picollo said. “And immediately, it centered around Zerpa, and we still felt like we need to take care of our bullpen. So there was some reluctance at first, but the more we thought about it, and once another name jumped into the situation like Mears, you know, we felt like it was something worth discussing.”
Collins brings positional versatility. He can play both second and third base in addition to the corner outfield spots. However, the Royals will use him primarily in left field to begin the 2026 campaign.
Additionally, Collins is set to boost the Royals offense. He recorded a .263 batting average with nine home runs and 54 RBIs in 130 games. The Royals valued his on-base percentage and ability to work deeper counts.
Collins is expected to hit throughout the lineup. There is a chance he could lead off depending on the situational approach.
“Isaac’s positional versatility is very attractive,” Picollo said. “When you combine that with the number of years of control, we know right now that the outfield is the primary spot he is going to play. It never hurts to have another player that has been in other positions and has done well in other positions. We feel like there is a lot of upside to this and safety at the same time because it helps you manage your roster well.”
Collins will reunite with Royals hitting coach Connor Dawson. Last season, Collins finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. The Royals were drawn to his consistent work ethic and ability to help the team.
“We need guys that can get on base around our four or five top guys,” Picollo said. “That’s what I think Isaac is going to be able to do for us. And I think it’s just a quality of an at-bat that he’s able to take on a consistent basis.”
The Royals haven’t ruled out more offseason moves. The club could still look to improve their bench and build depth in the bullpen.
Mears can help offset Zerpa’s loss. He brings veteran experience and can operate in a high leverage role. Last season, Mears posted a 3.49 ERA in 63 appearances.
“Our scouts have liked him for a number of years when he was in Colorado when our interest started,” Picollo said of Mears. “Here we are a couple of years later finally being able to land him. There’s an intensity about him and an above average fastball. The breaking ball looks like it fluctuates between slider and curveball. He has both in reports, and both are above average.”
Expect the Royals to seek a left-handed relief specialist. Currently, the Royals have just Daniel Lynch IV as the lone southpaw in the bullpen. Still, Picollo was glad to improve the team with both acquisitions.
“I don’t think I’m going to sit here and say that we are done,” Picollo said. “I don’t think that’s the case, but it doesn’t mean we have to get something done. (We are) being active to improve the overall team.”
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.kansascity.com ’
