{"id":2247612,"date":"2026-01-23T20:52:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2247612"},"modified":"2026-01-23T20:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:52:08","slug":"royals-trade-hopes-receive-ultimate-gut-punch-after-rangers-acquire-mackenzie-gore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/royals-trade-hopes-receive-ultimate-gut-punch-after-rangers-acquire-mackenzie-gore\/","title":{"rendered":"Royals&#8217; trade hopes receive ultimate gut punch after Rangers acquire MacKenzie Gore"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div q:key=\"QW_4\"><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5e q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Will the Kansas City Royals trade from their starting pitching surplus this season, or will they enter 2026 with a bit of logjam on their hands?<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5f q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5g\">Will the Kansas City Royals trade from their starting pitching surplus this season, or will they enter 2026 with a bit of logjam on their hands?<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5h q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>That&#39;s been one of the overarching questions of the Royals&#39; entire offseason to this point, especially when they could use it to their advantage to bolster their lineup and potentially add a real spark to their promising existing core.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5i q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5j\">That&#8217;s been one of the overarching questions of the Royals&#8217; entire offseason to this point, especially when they could use it to their advantage to bolster their lineup and potentially add a real spark to their promising existing core.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5k q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The problem of late though is that the starting pitching market seems to be settling and suddenly the Royals are left with less and less trade partners by the day.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5l q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5m\">The problem of late though is that the starting pitching market seems to be settling and suddenly the Royals are left with less and less trade partners by the day.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5n q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Ken Rosenthal of <em>The Athletic <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6978152\/2026\/01\/16\/mlb-free-agency-orioles-justin-verlander-zac-gallen\/\" target=\"_blank\">poured some cold water on potential deals<\/a> for Jarren Duran and Brendan Donovan (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kingsofkauffman.com\/ken-rosenthal-s-latest-take-opens-brendan-donovan-door-one-more-time-for-royals-01kfnj2zsfzk\">although there still might be hope for the latter<\/a>) with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals respectively last week.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5o q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5p\">Ken Rosenthal of <em>The Athletic <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6978152\/2026\/01\/16\/mlb-free-agency-orioles-justin-verlander-zac-gallen\/\" target=\"_blank\">poured some cold water on potential deals<\/a> for Jarren Duran and Brendan Donovan (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kingsofkauffman.com\/ken-rosenthal-s-latest-take-opens-brendan-donovan-door-one-more-time-for-royals-01kfnj2zsfzk\">although there still might be hope for the latter<\/a>) with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals respectively last week.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5q q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Then, the New York Mets went ahead and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kingsofkauffman.com\/chances-of-royals-mets-trade-seem-far-less-likely-now-after-freddy-peralta-trade-01kfkanqjngn\">acquired not just one of the top starting pitchers on the trade market in Freddy Peralta<\/a>, but a second big league capable starter in Tobias Myers as well, after a Wednesday night blockbuster with the Milwaukee Brewers.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5r q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5s\">Then, the New York Mets went ahead and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kingsofkauffman.com\/chances-of-royals-mets-trade-seem-far-less-likely-now-after-freddy-peralta-trade-01kfkanqjngn\">acquired not just one of the top starting pitchers on the trade market in Freddy Peralta<\/a>, but a second big league capable starter in Tobias Myers as well, after a Wednesday night blockbuster with the Milwaukee Brewers.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5t q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>And the Royals didn&#39;t have to wait a full day until one of the perceived safer potential trade partners shockingly made a major splash, as the Texas Rangers <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/news\/mackenzie-gore-trade-to-rangers-from-nationals\" target=\"_blank\">came out of nowhere to trade for now former Washington Nationals ace, MacKenzie Gore<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5u q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5v\">And the Royals didn&#8217;t have to wait a full day until one of the perceived safer potential trade partners shockingly made a major splash, as the Texas Rangers <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/news\/mackenzie-gore-trade-to-rangers-from-nationals\" target=\"_blank\">came out of nowhere to trade for now former Washington Nationals ace, MacKenzie Gore<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5w q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Rangers no longer feel like a suitable trade partner for Royals starting pitching surplus<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5x q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5y\">Rangers no longer feel like a suitable trade partner for Royals starting pitching surplus<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=5z q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>There had been some reports at the beginning of the offseason that the Rangers <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JeffWilsonTXR\/status\/1972834814488387650?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">may have some financial questions clouding their winter<\/a>, and after dealing Marcus Semien and his $26 million salary for 2026 in exchange for Brandon Nimmo and his nearly $10 million in savings compared to the former, that notion seemed to affirmed.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=60 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"61\">There had been some reports at the beginning of the offseason that the Rangers <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JeffWilsonTXR\/status\/1972834814488387650?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">may have some financial questions clouding their winter<\/a>, and after dealing Marcus Semien and his $26 million salary for 2026 in exchange for Brandon Nimmo and his nearly $10 million in savings compared to the former, that notion seemed to affirmed.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=62 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Perhaps that&#39;s why the Rangers were underestimated by many to land a big offseason fish, but with an injury-prone and\/or young starting staff, the need for reinforcements was definitely there.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=63 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"64\">Perhaps that&#8217;s why the Rangers were underestimated by many to land a big offseason fish, but with an injury-prone and\/or young starting staff, the need for reinforcements was definitely there.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=65 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>This is what made them <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kingsofkauffman.com\/3-new-pitching-trade-partners-the-kansas-city-royals-should-explore-this-offseason-01ketnjf47c0\">a strong fit for an All-Star on his last year of team control in Kris Bubic<\/a>, or potentially a younger name with plenty of affordable years of team control.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=66 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"67\">This is what made them <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kingsofkauffman.com\/3-new-pitching-trade-partners-the-kansas-city-royals-should-explore-this-offseason-01ketnjf47c0\">a strong fit for an All-Star on his last year of team control in Kris Bubic<\/a>, or potentially a younger name with plenty of affordable years of team control.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=68 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>However, the Gore trade makes a lot of sense given he&#39;s still an arbitration eligible arm, but perhaps many counted the Rangers out given their current financial status. Again though, a $5.6 million salary this season hardly breaks the bank.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=69 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6a\">However, the Gore trade makes a lot of sense given he&#8217;s still an arbitration eligible arm, but perhaps many counted the Rangers out given their current financial status. Again though, a $5.6 million salary this season hardly breaks the bank.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=6b q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Given their recent trade history with the Rangers in the Chris Young era in Arlington - having acquired both Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen from them since the former Royals starter took over their front office - the relationship seeme to be there to really make this a better fit.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6c q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6d\">Given their recent trade history with the Rangers in the Chris Young era in Arlington &#8211; having acquired both Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen from them since the former Royals starter took over their front office &#8211; the relationship seeme to be there to really make this a better fit.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=6e q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>But as it&#39;s been said seemingly countless times lately, Kansas City will probably have to look elsewhere if they want to move off of some of their immense starting pitching surplus.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6f q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6g\">But as it&#8217;s been said seemingly countless times lately, Kansas City will probably have to look elsewhere if they want to move off of some of their immense starting pitching surplus.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source kingsofkauffman.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Will the Kansas City Royals trade from their starting pitching surplus this season, or will they enter 2026 with a bit of logjam on their hands? That&#8217;s been one of the overarching questions of the Royals&#8217; entire offseason to this point, especially when they could use it to their advantage to bolster their lineup and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2247613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2247612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Royals-trade-hopes-receive-ultimate-gut-punch-after-Rangers-acquire.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2247612"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2247614,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247612\/revisions\/2247614"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2247613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2247612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2247612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2247612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}