Royals doing “due diligence” in scouting Michael Kopech for potential trade

The hard-throwing right-hander has had mixed results.

The Royals need bullpen help, as their relievers collectively have a 4.31 ERA and the worst strikeout rate in baseball. According to 670 The Score, they are just one of several teams scouting White Sox reliever Michael Kopech.

One of those drawing a good deal of interest is White Sox reliever Michael Kopech, as many clubs have sent scouts to watch him in recent weeks. The Yankees, Royals and Phillies are just a few of the teams that have been doing their due diligence on Kopech lately.

Kopech hails from Northeast Texas where he once lost a pitching matchup to Patrick Mahomes. He as a top prospect with the Red Sox and was one of the main pieces the White Sox acquired in the Chris Sale trade in 2016. The hard-throwing right-hander missed the entire 2019 season after Tommy John surgery and had mixed results in subsequent years as a starting pitcher. He moved to the bullpen this year and became the White Sox closer, but has only converted five of his nine save opportunities, and blew two saves this week. Overall he has a 4.91 ERA, giving up 9 runs in his last 6 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Kopech brings a fastball capable of hitting triple digits on the radar gun and has the ninth-highest strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate among relievers at 13.5. He does have one of the higher walk rates among relievers, and has one of the highest home run rates as well. In addition to his fastball, Kopech throws a slider that opponents are hitting .316 against, although with a 33.3 percent whiff rate, and a cutter.

The 28-year-old earns $3 million this year, and would be under club control for next year as well before he hits free agency. The White Sox have the worst record in baseball and are highly motivated to move him to get some prospects in return for their rebuild.