Starting pitcher surplus for Royals should pique the interest of SF Giants

With the SF Giants clearly seeking more pitching depth this offseason, the team should explore many different avenues to acquire more arms. One potential trade partner could be the Kansas City Royals who have a surplus of rotation arms.

A recent article in MLB Trade Rumors examines the glut of arms Kansas City has. For a team like the Giants which basically ran out of healthy and reliable arms by the end of the 2025 regular season, they could certainly use some more depth in that department.

SF Giants could benefit from glut of Kansas City Royals starters

Going into next season, Kansas City projects to have a starting rotation that includes Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha. All four are solid veteran options that provide a solid foundation for the rotation.

Beyond them, they have younger starters who could compete for a fifth spot in the rotation like Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, and Bailey Falter. They are positioned well because injuries are inevitably going to occur and teams need those extra arms capable of starting so their pitching staff does not get completely depleted as San Francisco's did in 2025.

The Royals are looking for more offense which could lead the Giants to offer up someone like Heliot Ramos in a trade. Ramos has proven over the last two seasons that he is a solid big league hitter although his defense leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe the Royals would be willing to part ways with someone like Wacha, famous among Giants fans for giving up Travis Ishikawa's walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 2014 NLCS, and one of their younger depth options in exchange for Ramos.

While the expensive, exciting free agent or a massive blockbuster trade for an ace pitcher are definitely flashier options for the Giants to improve the pitching staff, a more sensible trade with the Royals may be more up their alley given the lower odds of success with the other approaches.

Really, the Giants need to explore all avenues to improve their pitching staff. Whether through free agent signings, both major and minor, or trades, both major and minor, they have to enter 2026 with enough arms where they can reasonably feel like they can get through the year and not burn out their bullpen or only have three reliable starters like the end of 2025.

This will be the biggest task for the front office this offseason so do not be surprised if they make a deal with Kansas City to add pitching depth.