The Kansas City Royals had a blend of trades this past season that benefitted them in both the short and long term.
Acquiring outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and utilityman Adam Frazier undoubtedly made the team better down the stretch, and both would be welcomed back to Kansas City with open arms from the fans.
But trading away catcher Freddy Fermin for two starting-caliber pitchers was the kind of move that will pay dividends in the coming seasons. The Royals dealt the fan-favorite backstop to the San Diego Padres for a surprising package, and that aggression from the NL team is already starting to bite them heading into 2026.