Could the Los Angeles Dodgers acquire right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo from the Kansas City Royals?
The Kansas City Royals were one of baseball’s most uplifting stories last season, making a 30-game improvement from 2023 to 2024 to secure a spot in the American League playoffs.
They went on to upset the Baltimore Orioles and split the first two games of the AL Division Series against the eventual AL champion New York Yankees.
However, the Royals haven’t been able to recapture that same success this year. As of July 3, they’re seven games under .500 and sitting in fourth place in the AL Central.
Kansas City is 14 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. While they’re just 5.5 games out of a wild card spot, they’d need to leapfrog six teams to get into playoff contention.
Given the circumstances, it’s likely the Royals will be sellers at the MLB trade deadline—and one of their most valuable trade chips is 35-year-old starter Seth Lugo.
Let’s take a look at how a potential deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers might shape up.
Kansas City Royals-Los Angeles Dodgers Mock Trade
Proposed Trade:
- Royals receive: Outfielder Mike Sirota (Dodgers’ No. 17 prospect) and corner infielder Logan Wagner (Dodgers’ No. 23 prospect)
- Dodgers receive: Right-handed starter Seth Lugo
There’s a well-known saying in baseball: you can never have too much starting pitching. If you need proof, just take a look at the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Given how much the Dodgers have spent on their rotation, it’s surprising they might still need another starter,” wrote ESPN’s David Schoenfield. “But with uncertainty surrounding the long-term health of Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Roki Sasaki—though Glasnow has at least begun a Triple-A rehab stint—the Dodgers might be one of the few teams with the prospect depth to pull off a deal like this.”
Adding Seth Lugo would give Los Angeles another steady veteran in their rotation. He’s been in excellent form lately, sporting a 1.26 ERA since the beginning of June.
Lugo has a player option for 2026, so there’s a chance he could just be a short-term rental. But if he keeps pitching the way he has recently, his value at the deadline could be significant.
Initially, Dodgers No. 10 prospect Nick Frasso looked like a solid potential return for Kansas City. However, with the Royals needing more offensive help, it could make more sense for them to acquire two position-player prospects—even if they’re slightly lower-ranked—instead of one higher-rated pitcher.
A move to the Dodgers could also boost Lugo’s value simply through more team support. Despite a strong 2.74 ERA and 1.083 WHIP this season, he’s only 5-5 with the Royals due to limited run support. Through 88.2 innings in 2025, Lugo has tallied 76 strikeouts—numbers that could play even better on a contending roster like Los Angeles.
No Comment! Be the first one.