What to do with Kyle Wright

The current Royals front office has demonstrated its ability to acquire standout players in trades without burdening the team with costly contracts. In 2018, the Royals focused on acquiring college pitchers, among whom were Brady Singer, Kris Bubic, Daniel Lynch, and Jackson Kowar. However, as is often the case in drafts, not every pick proves successful, and Kowar unfortunately fell short of expectations for the Royals.
Kowar's major league debut in 2021 failed to impress, with the right-hander posting a disappointing 9.12 ERA over 39 games, eight of which were starts. Consequently, Kansas City opted to part ways with Kowar, as many fans had hoped. In 2023, Kowar was traded to Atlanta in exchange for Nick Anderson and Kyle Wright, both established big league pitchers.
Anderson seamlessly integrated into the Royals' 26-man roster upon arrival, while Wright faced challenges due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the previous season. Despite Wright's relatively modest salary of $1.8 million, his prolonged absence made him a costly investment for the Braves. However, Atlanta's decision to trade him was not solely motivated by financial considerations but also by their offseason roster plans, as explained by Braves beat writer Justin Toscano.
With Wright's future uncertain due to his injury and his previous performance as primarily a starter, the Royals may explore alternative roles for him, especially considering their already solid rotation for the upcoming season. Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha have both signed multi-year deals, and Brady Singer and Alec Marsh remain under team control for two more seasons beyond 2024. If the team opts to move on from Jordan Lyles, Wright could potentially fill a long relief role in the bullpen.
Although Wright's role with the team remains unclear, the trade with Atlanta underscores General Manager JJ Picollo's willingness to take calculated risks on players aiming for a comeback, despite the team's tendency to swiftly cut ties with struggling players compared to previous administrations. Fans can expect to see more trades of this nature with Picollo at the helm in Kansas City.






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