The Royals wanted to improve their outfield and although their first choice would have been to trade with Boston for Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, they did a solid job by dealing for the Brewers’ Isaac Collins and signing Lane Thomas in free agency.
Both players are platoon-type outfielders but with Matt Quatraro managing they’ll be in great shape in terms of getting the most out of both players. Thomas can really rake against left-handed pitchers (.292/.359/.500 against lefties over his career), although he doesn’t hit well against right-handers. Collins was one of the better rookie outfielders in the NL in 2025, playing well defensively and getting on-base at a good clip while stealing 16 bases.
The best move they made was landing left-handed reliever Matt Strahm from the Phillies in a trade. Strahm, who began his big-league career in KC, punched out 70 batters in 62 1/3 innings with a 1.075 WHIP and 2.74 ERA for the Phillies in 2025. He’ll join Lucas Erceg in setting up for closer Carlos Estévez.