The Kansas City Royals reportedly explored trading for Luis Arraez before the San Diego Padres ultimately secured him from the Miami Marlins.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, discussions between the Royals and Marlins were in their preliminary stages but didn’t progress further, leading to the Padres’ acquisition of Arraez.
The Seattle Mariners had also been pursuing Arraez since the offseason, but San Diego emerged victorious in the end, offering reliever Woo-Suk Go, outfielder Dillon Head, outfielder Jakob Marsee, and first baseman Nathan Martorella to seal the deal with Miami.
Kansas City had been active in the offseason, making notable signings like Garrett Hampson, Hunter Renfroe, and Adam Frazier, along with bolstering their pitching staff. Despite Michael Massey’s solid performance as the primary second baseman, Arraez would have added more offensive firepower to the Royals’ lineup.
Arraez, a former All-Star and Silver Slugger winner, boasts impressive career statistics, batting .325 with an .802 OPS and a 15.3 WAR. Although Arraez made a strong debut for the Padres, going 4-for-6 in his first game, Massey also had a productive weekend, going 4-for-8.
While the Royals are currently enjoying a winning season with a record of 20-15, their pursuit of Arraez suggests they were aiming to further strengthen their lineup for a potential playoff push. However, with Massey performing well, the immediate necessity for Arraez in their lineup may not be as urgent as initially perceived.
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