Royals eyeing Duran, but Red Sox’ asking price too high: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
If the Boston Red Sox look to trade Jarren Duran this offseason, the Kansas City Royals are an obvious match. Kansas City is looking for outfield help, and its pitching staff includes multiple arms that could pique Boston’s interest.
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The Royals are open to trading for Duran, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Red Sox’ asking price is too high. KC believes such a deal would require shipping left-hander Cole Ragans to Boston.
“Even after signing free agent Lane Thomas and trading for Isaac Collins, the Kansas City Royals are open to adding another outfielder – most notably Jarren Duran, if the Boston Red Sox lower their asking price,” Rosenthal writes.
“The Royals are under the impression Duran would cost them left-hander Cole Ragans, though the Red Sox view the initial talks as more informal and exploratory, according to people briefed on the conversations.
“Both Ragans, 28, and Duran, 29, are under club control for three more seasons, with Ragans under contract for a combined $12 million in 2026-27 and Duran for $7.75 million in ’26. The Royals, though, see Ragans as a player with greater value, a potential Game 1 starter in a postseason series.”
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Although a Duran-for-Ragans deal makes sense for both sides, the Royals’ hesitance is understandable. Ragans is an ace-caliber starter with multiple years of control, and pitchers fitting that description typically come with a hefty price tag. Boston likely would have to add an intriguing prospect or two to the trade package to get Kansas City to bite, but given Ragans’ ability to slot in as the No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet, it may be worth it.
Ragans placed fourth in the 2024 American League Cy Young vote, finishing with a 3.14 ERA and an AL-best 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He missed time last season with groin and rotator cuff injuries, limiting him to only 13 starts (61.1 innings pitched). He posted a 4.67 ERA, but his 2.50 FIP and 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings were encouraging.
Duran, an All-Star in 2024, is coming off a down season in which he slashed .256/.332/.442 with 16 homers, 84 RBI, and 24 stolen bases in 157 games. He’s part of a crowded Red Sox outfield that includes Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, and Ceddanne Rafaela.
Boston has been expected to move one of their outfielders — specifically Duran or Abreu — this offseason, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is content with keeping the group intact, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe.
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“According to executives from multiple clubs that have been in the market for outfielders and have talked trade possibilities with the Red Sox, Breslow’s message has been consistent. He has Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Jarren Duran on the roster. He is comfortable keeping it that way into next season unless a team convinces him not to,” Healey writes.
Keeping all four outfielders would be a head-scratcher. The only logical path to giving each player consistent playing time would be shifting Rafaela — an elite center fielder — to second base. Trading Duran or Abreu would clear the logjam while presumably upgrading the Red Sox’ pitching staff.
Other than Ragans, fellow southpaw Kris Bubic is among the Royals’ most valuable pitchers who could be available on the trade market. Bubic, 28, is coming off a breakout All-Star campaign in which he posted a 2.55 ERA across 20 starts.
