The Kansas City Royals finished the 2025 season with an 82-80 record, missing the playoffs after their surprising Wild Card run in 2024.
While the pitching staff remained one of the best in baseball, the outfield was a glaring weakness that held the team back, and now the front office is looking to fix that problem by dealing from their surplus of starting pitching.
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Rosenthal Reports Bubic Available
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Royals remain open to moving left-hander Kris Bubic, who is projected to earn around $6 million in his final year of arbitration before hitting free agency.
Bubic had a breakout campaign in 2025, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA across 20 starts while earning his first career All-Star selection before a rotator cuff strain ended his season in late July.
The 28-year-old was one of the best stories in baseball last year, returning from Tommy John surgery to dominate opposing hitters with a revamped pitch mix that included a new sweeper and an improved fastball that jumped from 91.7 mph to 93.0 mph.
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He delivered a quality start in 11 of his 20 outings and struck out 116 batters in 116.1 innings of work, posting a career-best 3.1 WAR.
Why the Royals Would Trade Bubic
The decision to shop Bubic comes down to roster construction and timing. Kansas City has one of the deepest rotations in baseball, with Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, and Seth Lugo all locked up on extensions, plus young arms like Noah Cameron and Ryan Bergert waiting in the wings.
With Bubic entering his walk year, the Royals would rather get something in return now than risk losing him for nothing next winter.
More importantly, the team desperately needs outfield help.
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Kansas City’s outfielders ranked dead last in baseball in batting average (.219), wRC+ (70), and fWAR (-1.4) during the 2025 season.
The front office has already signed Lane Thomas and acquired Isaac Collins from the Brewers, but they want to add even more to address what has been the team’s biggest problem for multiple years.
Trade Targets and Partners
The Royals have been linked to several outfielders on the trade market, with Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox being the most prominent name.
Duran hit .256 with a .774 OPS, 16 home runs, and 84 RBIs in 157 games last season while also leading the American League in triples with 13.
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However, according to Rosenthal, the Red Sox’s asking price has been too high for Kansas City, with the Royals believing they would have to include ace Cole Ragans to land Duran.
Boston has made it clear they want a top-of-the-rotation arm in return, and Bubic alone likely won’t be enough to get a deal done since he only has one year of control remaining.
The Houston Astros have also been mentioned as a potential trade partner, with center fielder Jake Meyers reportedly available as Houston looks to add starting pitching.
A Bubic-for-Meyers swap could make sense for both sides, though the Royals are exploring many different avenues to improve their outfield situation heading into 2026.