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A view of baseballs prior to game five of the American League Championship Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on October 17, 2025.
The Kansas City Royals made a notable move during the offseason, acquiring outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Ángel Zerpa. The deal, finalized shortly after the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings, adds both offensive and bullpen depth to a Royals roster that has been actively addressing its offseason needs.
Kansas City’s front office signaled that it was intent on improving key areas of the roster following a 2025 campaign that left several holes, particularly in outfield production. By trading for Collins and Mears, the Royals aim to inject youth, versatility, and controllable talent into the lineup and bullpen–moves that could have meaningful impacts as the 2026 season approaches.
“I’m excited,” Collins said. “It feels really good to know that an organization is excited about me and values me. That just gives me confidence.”
What Zerpa Brought
The Royals parted with a reliable left-handed arm in Zerpa. The southpaw had spent five seasons with Kansas City and established himself as a regular contributor out of the bullpen. Over his career, Zerpa compiled a 12-7 record with a 3.97 ERA and 150 strikeouts, demonstrating steady production and durability over 148 Major League appearances.
In 2025, Zerpa made a career-high 69 appearances, working 64.2 innings with a 5-2 record, 4.18 ERA, 58 strikeouts, and a 1.38 WHIP.
Zerpa’s success wasn’t purely about volume; he ranked near the top of the league in induced ground-ball rate–a trait that made him especially valuable in key situations and complemented the Royals’ defensive profile.
An Offensive Boost and Positional Flexibility
At just 28 years old, Collins arrives in Kansas City with a strong foundation to build on. In his first full Major League season with the Brewers, Collins produced an impressive stat line, hitting .263 with a .368 on-base percentage and a .411 slugging percentage across 130 games in 2025.
“Every day, I was learning more and more that my game works and I just need to trust my process and stick to it. …,” Collins said.
Collins’ performance didn’t just come via traditional batting average figures. His plate discipline, ability to draw walks, and switch-hitting skill set made him a difficult out for opposing pitchers. In fact, his walk rate and on-base skills made him a valuable offensive piece in Milwaukee’s lineup and contribute to why Kansas City was willing to bring him into its own fold.
Defensively, Collins offers positional flexibility. While his primary work came in left field, he is capable of playing other positions if needed, giving Royals manager Matt Quatraro options when setting up lineups and matchups throughout the season.
“He’s the type of player that we value,” J.J.Picollo, Royals general manager, said. “Versatility, the speed component, there’s a defensive component. Ball in play, on base. It’s a very well-rounded player that I think is what our offense needs. He’ll fit very well.”
Kansas City is expected to make Collins a regular part of its outfield alignment in 2026, aiming to improve offensive output in an area that struggled last season. The Royals finished near the bottom of MLB in wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) from their outfield corps in 2025, and Collins’ addition represents a clear attempt to address that deficiency.
Mears Provides Bullpen Options
Alongside Collins, the Royals also acquired right-handed reliever Mears, a pitcher with MLB experience and a track record of contributing meaningful innings out of the bullpen. Mears, who has played for multiple clubs during his career, including stints with the Pirates, Rockies, and Brewers, offers depth and a familiar arm that can be counted on throughout the long 162-game season.
In 2025, Mears posted a 5-3 record while appearing in 63 games, logging 56.2 innings and striking out 46 batters.
Mears’ presence in the bullpen helps Kansas City solidify a relief corps that has experienced some turnover. Although the Royals added Collins and Mears to strengthen the roster, the club isn’t finished tinkering in the offseason.
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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