At 32-19 with a +72 run differential, Kansas City is, by any metric, a top-three team in the American League right now. Their starting rotation has been a revelation, Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are both MVP candidates and quietly, the Royals have become a defensive juggernaut. Now on a six-game winning streak, fans in K.C. are starting to think pretty seriously about a playoff run.

But in order for this surprising success to continue, the Royals cannot afford to keep their roster as currently constructed. There are still some pretty obvious weaknesses and only once those are addressed will the Royals be able to lay claim bona-fide pennant chaser status. These are those weaknesses and the corresponding trades that must be made to eradicate them.

It’s frankly commendable that the Royals’ offensive profile has been at or above league average with the total lack of production they have had from their outfield, especially the corners. Hunter Renfroe, Nelson Velazquez, MJ Melendez and Dairon Blanco have combined for -1.2 bWAR, all with OPS’s below .700. Championship offenses simply do not have that problem.

So where should the Royals turn? There are some obvious teams falling out of the race with chips to sell, so Tommy Pham, Connor Joe and perhaps Bryan De La Cruz will be more likely fits. But this is the time for the Royals to go big-game hunting and take a swing at 2023 All-Star Brent Rooker, who is having a monster start to the season once again for the Oakland Athletics.