Report: Royals checked in on Phillies' Bohm, Angels' Ward
The Kansas City Royals entered the offseason looking to add players after their best season in nearly a decade, and it looks like they have a couple of targets in mind.
Kansas City has checked in with the Philadelphia Phillies about third baseman Alec Bohm and the Los Angeles Angels about outfielder Taylor Ward, sources told MLB.com's Anne Rogers.
The Royals' interest in both players comes three days after they were reportedly discussing a trade with Cincinnati that would send right-hander Brady Singer to the Reds for second baseman Jonathan India.
Kansas City has made upgrading its offense a priority this winter, according to Rogers. The Royals finished 20th in wRC+ even with Bobby Witt Jr. producing an MVP-type season and Salvador Perez having a solid year at the dish.
Bohm, 28, made his first All-Star team in 2024, posting a .779 OPS (117 OPS+) with 44 doubles and 97 RBIs.
He struggled in the second half, hitting .251/.299/.382. Bohm continued to perform poorly in the playoffs, collecting one hit in 13 at-bats during the Phillies' NLDS loss to the New York Mets.
Meanwhile, Ward hit 25 homers and drove in 75 while appearing in a career-high 156 games for the Angels last season. The 30-year-old is not due to become a free agent until 2027 and is projected to earn $9.2 million through arbitration.