The Oakland Athletics are receiving an unnecessary large share of the national media’s attention for their impending move to Las Vegas, their loyal fans in Oakland, and their abysmal record. However, the A’s are not guaranteed to end the regular season as the worst team in baseball. Although the heavy favorite to finish last in baseball, another team has been giving the A’s competition in the race to the bottom. 

The Kansas City Royals have been anything but competitive so far in the 2023 MLB season and are serious contenders for being the worst team in the league. As of June 14, the Royals have the fewest wins (18) and the worst win percentage in baseball this season (.265). The team is currently on a 9-game losing streak, while the A’s recently won 7-straight games to bring the team a slightly higher win percentage (.268).

The Royals have a promising trio of position players on the team in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr (23), first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (25), and outfielder MJ Melendez (24). However, the current nucleus has disappointed this season and combined for 0.6 WAR (Wins Above Replacement). To make matters worse, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Pasquantino will likely miss the remainder of the 2023 season after opting to undergo surgery to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder. 

At the trade deadline, the Royals will likely [and definitely should] trade the few players who are performing well to add a much-needed boost to their farm system. Veterans like starting pitcher Zack Greinke (1.13 WHIP) and relief pitchers Aroldis Chapman (2.70 ERA) and Taylor Clarke (2.70 ERA) could all be traded at the deadline to help a team in the postseason hunt improve their pitching staff. In return, the Royals can recoup some younger assets for their older players that don’t fit with the team’s timeline. Catcher Salvador Perez, the lone remaining member from the 2015 World Series champion Royals team, could also be dealt as well. Although his trade value would be relatively high, the likelihood of Perez being dealt is low considering he has played his whole career with the Royals and has been a fan-favorite over the past decade. 

The Royals’ farm system is not any more promising than their major league roster and ranks among the worst in the MLB. According to MLB.com, the Royals only have one prospect, outfielder Gavin Cross (68), in the Top 100 Baseball Prospects and his expected time of arrival in the majors is in 2025.

The Royals are roughly one-third of the way through their season and there is still plenty of time for change, but if the beginning of the season is any indication of what is to come, there is little hope that the team will improve on their MLB-worst record.