Matt SullivanWed, April 29, 2026 at 7:16 PM UTC·2 min readRoyals linked to trade for 0.50 ERA right-handed Rockies pitcher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Kansas City Royals are 12-17 on the season, but they're only 2.5 games out of the top spot in the very weak AL Central.
With such a poor record and weak division, the Royals should be looking to make a trade or two to bolster their roster and make a push for the postseason. If they do, more pitching help is a must.
ESPN's Bradford Doolittle linked the Royals, along with plenty of other teams, to a Colorado Rockies pitcher who has a 0.50 ERA this season across 18 innings pitched in Antonio Senzatela.
"For the Royals, and all teams seeking high-leverage assistance, keep an eye on the reanimated version of Antonio Senzatela in Colorado," Doolittle writes.
The Rockies might be willing to trade away this right-handed pitcher, as they're going to be one of the worst teams in MLB this year, and getting prospects back for someone pitching as well as Senzatela would make sense.
So far this season, through eight games as a long reliever, Senzatela has posted a 0.50 ERA with 1.2 bWAR on the season.
Across 18 innings pitched, Senzatela has two saves, a 1-0 record, and 18 strikeouts with a 0.667 WHIP and ridiculous 960 ERA+.
More: Pete Crow-Armstrong is still struggling to hit well for the Cubs
That is obviously not going to be sustainable all year long, but his massive breakout season is worth trying to capitalize on.
Kansas City, if they had someone like Senzatela, they wouldn't have to worry as much about their very shaky bullpen.
He could take over as a closer if needed in certain spots, while also coming in for bulk relief appearances as well.
The Royals are linked to Senzatela by Doolittle, and it would make a lot of sense if they worked out a deal for the 31-year-old 10th-year veteran in the middle of an out-of-nowhere breakout.
Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
Aaron Judge makes baseball history never done before by Yankees player
Reds' Elly De La Cruz makes baseball history not done in last 126 years
5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals