Could the Kansas City Royals have a bigger move in mind after signing All-Star relief pitcher Carlos Estévez?

On Wednesday night, the Royals signed the 6-foot-6 right-hander to a two-year contract with an option for a third year, potentially strengthening their bullpen. This could make some of the other interesting relief pitchers on Kansas City’s roster, like Angel Zerpa, potentially expendable.

Zerpa, a 25-year-old lefty with four years of team control left, no longer appears to be the Royals’ top setup option. While a deep bullpen is always beneficial, what if Zerpa could be used in a trade to acquire a high-potential hitter?

One trade candidate gaining significant attention is shortstop Bo Bichette, particularly if the Toronto Blue Jays fall out of playoff contention. After a tough 2024 season, and with free agency on the horizon, the Blue Jays may be reluctant to commit to a long-term deal with him.

In light of this, Preston Farr of Farm to Fountains recently suggested a potential blockbuster deal that would send Bichette to Kansas City in exchange for infielder Maikel Garcia, relief pitcher Angel Zerpa, and one of the Royals’ catching prospects—either Carter Jensen or Ramon Ramirez.

“Star shortstop Bo Bichette enters the final year of team control in 2025,” Farr noted. “Could the Blue Jays look to re-tool as they plan for both Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to hit the market next winter?”

“Maikel Garcia and Angel Zerpa are solid starting pieces. Garcia could step in at shortstop for Toronto, allowing top prospect Orelvis Martinez to take over at third base. Zerpa would provide a boost to the Blue Jays’ bullpen. It would likely require more to complete the trade, with one of the catching prospects, Carter Jensen or Ramon Ramirez, possibly making the deal work.”

While Bichette struggled in 2024 with a .598 OPS and missed 80 games due to injury, he’s still a two-time American League hits leader with a career OPS just shy of .800. He has the potential to bounce back, and a strong version of him could greatly improve the Royals’ offense.

Of course, there would be some necessary defensive adjustments. Bichette would likely need to shift to second base, allowing Bobby Witt Jr. to stay at shortstop, while Jonathan India would likely move to left field on a more regular basis.

Though there’s no certainty that such a trade will happen, it’s certainly an avenue worth considering.