What happened: Kansas City continued an offseason simulation with a second installment focused on rotation trades. The framework follows ownership guidance to add aggressively while limiting payroll spending. One scenario weighed the cost of frontline control, including a one-year target in Logan Gilbert.

Why it matters: Kansas City faces a rotation-led path back toward contention after Milwaukee and Tampa Bay reached the World Series. Adding controllable starting pitching would address innings and stability without a payroll jump. The exercise tests how much prospect capital that approach demands from the Royals and Angels systems.

What to watch: The next step sorts payroll effects from any trade frameworks before turning to free-agent fits.