What remains to be seen is what the trade market looks like for those starters in regard to who the Royals want to get in return, and who exactly they’re willing to give up. They get a lot of questions about Cole Ragans, whom the Royals are highly unlikely to trade unless they are blown away by the offer. They haven’t been. Teams ask a lot about Noah Cameron, who is a young and controllable starter with plenty of upside.
But what do the Royals get in return for that? They better be getting years of control with the player(s) they ask for as well. And of course teams ask about Kris Bubic, who is a free agent after 2026. Does he have enough value, though — with one year of control and the injuries he’s dealt with — to net the Royals the bat they’re looking for? Those are the conversations the club is having internally and with other teams. The conversations are happening, but nothing is moving at the moment.