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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 14: Kris Bubic #50 of the Kansas City Royals delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on May 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If I had a nickel for every time the Royals traded a left-handed starting pitcher that some people felt was better in the bullpen on an expiring deal, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice.
It’s sad to see Kris Bubic go. I still wonder if the Royals might try to bring him back on a one-year deal to a rapidly depleting pitching staff next year. There were strong rumors that the Royals had a deal worked out to send Bubic to the Angels for Taylor Ward this past offseason when Baltimore convinced them to take Grayson Rodriguez instead. Obviously, his value has diminished with a second straight season derailed by injury. Especially because no one seems to quite understand the nature of the injury. But he’s no longer the Royals’ problem.
Carlos Duran is a big right-handed reliever that the Dodgers added as a minor league free agent last year. He has struck out 12 batters per 9 innings but also walked nearly 6 per 9 in AAA for them this season. He still has a 3.38 ERA, though. He just turned 25 last week, and while he did make his major league debut last season, he only pitched 1/3 of an inning for the Athletics. You have to wonder if he could serve more as help in the Royals’ bullpen this year than a prospect for next season.
Kris’s true value seems like it’s probably far less than their model indicates since he’s currently on the 60-day IL and no one seems to know when he might return. If the Royals can turn Duran into a serviceable reliever, this would seem like a huge win for them.
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