Why Royals Should Not Trade Michael Wacha

The Kansas City Royals saw a lot of inconsistency from the majority of their lineup and starting rotation while pitching injuries played another factor in a disappointing year where they finished fifth in the AL Central and missed the MLB playoffs for the second-straight season.

However, manager Matt Quatraro can remain confident whenever right-hander Michael Wacha has the ball. The 35-year-old had another incredible year, posting an impressive 3.32 ERA and 1.11 WHIP while striking out 158 batters through 32 starts and 200.2 innings pitched.

As a result, it is not surprising that teams inquired with the Royals about the veteran starter near the trade deadline. Even then, Wacha ended up staying with Kansas City as they could not find a team willing to meet their overly high asking price, according to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report.

Despite another brutal year, the Royals would be wise to hold on to Wacha given that several of their other starters including Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila are still recovering from season-ending UCL surgeries. A mid-season return is expected for Ragans while Kolek and Avila might miss most of, if not all of 2027. Kansas City also lost right-hander Alec Marsh who underwent a right shoulder surgery to address a torn labrum.

Moreover, Wacha's leadership and experience should help build up Noah Cameron who had a promising season in his own right, compiling a 4.11 ERA and matching Wacha's strikeout total across 177.1 innings of work. Cameron also went 9-8 overall in 30 starts, only missing one scheduled turn in the rotation.

While Wacha is now in the twilight years of his career, he and Cameron could work out to be a formidable duo in the Royals' rotation if his body can still go the distance during a full 162-game season.

Wacha had his best performance against the division rival Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 28 near the end of the season, recording 10 punchouts in eight innings to hand the Royals a 3-0 shutout victory.

The Guardians eventually got to Wacha though, tagging him for six hits and two earned runs on Sept. 26 to earn an 11-5 win and secure the No. 2 seed in the AL for this year's postseason.

Regardless, Wacha has shown that he is still an arm worth trusting and keeping in a Royals uniform due to the combination of his sustained dominance and Kansas City's need for depth on the mound.