Seth Lugo Another productive start this afternoon, throwing six innings and two rounds to win at Wrigley Stadium. Now, the veteran right-hander has a 2.95 running average with a strikeout rate of 22%. This is his 11th start in 19 games.
Kansas City took two-thirds from the Cubs, but they still had three games under .500. They will play Guardians and Braves tomorrow in the Family Series, which will give them a deadline. Lugo will play a game in Atlanta until the royal family decides their future. He will likely turn down the 15mm player option for next season. Kansas City’s victory today put them back in four games in the final AL wildcard seat, which is to be determined in Philadelphia’s game. The rays, the guardians and the Rangers all stood between them and Boston.
Royals will receive a lot of calls from Lugo and if KC makes him available, he will be one of the best short-term pitchers on the market. Jon Morosi of the Major League Baseball Network reported yesterday that the Cubs were one of the teams talking about pitching with Kansas City. Morossi added that the royals were not surprisingly trading Lugo instead of being separated from Southpaw Kris Bubic. ESPN’s Jeff Passan heard the same voice, writing that the royal family is currently more focused on Lugo.
This doesn’t mean that Lugo is a moving lock. Passan added that if the royals think they are still in the wildcard, they can keep the veteran’s right hand and make him a qualified offer when he lands in free agency. If Lugo walks, that at least ensures that they are compensated for the draft picks. If he gets at least 50mm guarantee, that will be after the first round; if his contract is below 50mm, it will be between the end of the competitive balance B season and the beginning of the third round (about 75th).
Ken Rosenthal of the movement also indicated that royals have not yet decided whether to trade Lugo. He wrote that Kansas City felt they had a great chance to re-sign him as a free agent – following a path similar to the new deal last winter Michael Wacha He chose to quit. If the royals are going to trade Lugo, Rosenthal added that they need controllable outfield help. KC’s long-term problem gets any offense from its outfielders, which is a logical goal.
The exit clause in Lugo’s contract is a somewhat complicated factor. Although he is likely a rent, a acquisition team will take the risk of major damage he suffered in the last two months and then make up 15mm of dead money next season. This won’t be harmful, especially for high payers’ franchise, but if the Kansas City store Lugo is in store, the team wants to price it as its own deal.
Meanwhile, Bubic was under arbitration control in another season. The All-Star Lefty pays 3mm and should be pushed into the $6-7mm range next year. Bubic had a strikeout rate of 24.9% in 113 2/3 innings in the first full season of Tommy John’s surgery.
In the injury limit he is in the 46 1/3 combo framework between 2023-24, the team may have some workload issues. Few potential pitchers do well, though, so other clubs are certainly calling on royals to assess his availability. The extra club control year makes him a longer shooting candidate for the KC team, and they hope to compete next season even if they sell soft sellers over the next eight days.
