The next five weeks will be an exhilarating, yet stressful time to follow the Kansas City Royals. In a wide-open American League, the Royals have thus far failed to answer the bell in 2025. Because they’re a small-market team that made the playoffs last season, the Royals would much rather buy at the trade deadline than sell. In that case, Lugo would be the biggest trade chip the Royals have to work with, and could even wind up becoming the best pitcher traded at the deadline.