The General Managers Meetings are taking place in Las Vegas this week, a setting where teams often start conversations on possible transactions to be made later in the offseason. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Royals are evaluating the outfield trade market.
It’s a logical target for the club. The outfield in Kansas City has been a weak spot for years. 2025 was no exception. The team’s outfielders had a collective .225/.285/.348 batting line this year. That resulted in a 73 wRC+, indicating the club’s outfield group was 27% worse than league average. That was easily the worst mark in the majors, with the Guardians’ jardineros second-last with a wRC+ of 77.
The current group in Kansas City includes Jac Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, John Rave, Dairon Blanco, MJ Melendez, Kameron Misner, Drew Waters and others. Caglianone came into 2025 as a top prospect but struggled badly in his first major league call-up. No one else in the group has any real track record of big league success either.
Upgrading there is an obvious way to improve the club overall. The trade market also makes sense as a way to go about doing it, considering the club’s finances. About a month ago, owner John Sherman said that he expects the 2026 club to have a fairly similar payroll to 2025. RosterResource currently estimates the Royals for a payroll of about $140MM next year. That’s slightly higher than the $138MM RR pegged their spending at the end of 2025.
That doesn’t suggest the front office will have a huge amount of spending capacity. They could lower their commitments by non-tendering some of their arb-eligible players. Jonathan India has the highest projected salary in the Royals’ class at $7.4MM and he’s coming off a poor season. The club could also perhaps trade Kris Bubic and his projected $6MM salary since the rotation could still be in decent shape without him.
Even if the club does pinch a few pennies, they’re not going to suddenly become favorites for a big free agent like Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. Re-signing Mike Yastrzemski is feasible but it’s understandable that president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo would check to see what’s available on the trade market.
Morosi mentions the Red Sox and Angels as possible trading partners. Those seem like speculative picks but they make sense. The Angels have a question in center field but have a crowded mix in the corners. Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler give them four options for three spots, between the two outfield corners and the designated hitter slot. Trout isn’t going anywhere and Soler has negative trade value at the moment, since he is owed $13MM next year and is coming off a down season.
Trading one of Adell or Ward seems like the move for the Angels, as that could clear up the logjam while potentially adding some much-needed pitching help. MLBTR put both of them on our recent list of the Top 40 Trade Candidates for this offseason. Last week, Morosi reported that the Halos would indeed listen on Ward and Adell.
Ward has the better track record. He has essentially been a 20-plus homer guy for four years now. He only got to 14 long balls in 2023 but was limited by injuries to just 97 games. He just hit 36 homers in 2025 with a strong 11.3% walk rate to boot. Reviews on his defense are mixed. He’s been credited with seven Outs Above Average in his career but minus-14 Defensive Runs Saved.
Adell got many chances with the Angels and didn’t take advantage of most of them but he has shown some promise lately. He did 20 homers in 2024 and 37 this year. His walk and strikeout rates are poor, limiting the overall value of his offense, but he was still a decent contributor in 2025. His .236/.293/.485 line translated to a 112 wRC+. His defensive grades were poor in center but more passable in right.
Though Ward has the longer résumé, the trade value might be comparable. Ward is just one year from free agency and is projected for a salary of $13.7MM next year. Adell, meanwhile, is projected for just $5.5MM and can be controlled through 2027.
The Red Sox have a well-known glut of outfield options which currently includes Ceddanne Rafaela, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida and Jhostynxon GarcÃa. Anthony signed a big extension with the club and isn’t going anywhere. That’s likely also the case for Rafaela, who also signed an extension and is an elite glove in center. GarcÃa isn’t yet proven at the major league level but is optionable and swings from the right side, a potential asset in a lefty-heavy lineup.
Duran and Abreu are fairly redundant as lefty-swinging corner guys. Both cracked the aforementioned MLBTR list of Top 40 Trade Candidates for this winter. Duran has more big league experience and has shown a higher ceiling but he’s down to two years of club control and will make $7.7MM this year. Abreu, on the other hand, hasn’t yet qualified for arbitration and still has four seasons of club control remaining.
Both the Angels and Red Sox plan to compete in 2026. If either club were to trade an outfielder, they would likely be looking for a return that would help the big league club, as opposed to prospects. Both clubs could use pitching, which is something the Royals have. MLBTR’s Nick Deeds recently took a look at the club’s rotation depth and the possibility that the club could leverage that into an offensive upgrade.
The offseason is still young, so there are still many possible paths for the Royals to take. In addition to the Angels and Red Sox, clubs like the Cardinals, Twins, Diamondbacks and others could have outfielders available, while signing Yastrzemski or someone similar is possible as well.
Photo courtesy of Jerome Miron, Imagn Images
They should offer the Red Sox a package of minor league players for Abreu or Duran. What would the package look like?
It would be malpractice to use their best resources for a “package of minor league players”.
So unless they’re willing to trade Cameron or Bubic, hard pass from this Red Sox fan.
I think the Royals could get Abreu for a package that includes Blake Mitchell, Hunter Owen, & Josh Hansell. Owen and Hansell would thrive in Breslow’s pitching program.
I’ve said it before. I don’t see Abreu going anywhere. With his defensive value highest to Boston (50% of games at Fenway) and Henry loving metric and financial value, it’s Duran that gets traded barring a return that is a true #2 starter. The Sox are looking to win now and as to trade partners, they likely are only looking for MLB talent or low level minor league talent with multiple years before they need to be added to the 40 man roster. I don’t know the Royals pieces but I don’t think what was mentioned qualifies as a #2. Are they potential talent who will not need to be soon protected?
I do think deweybelongsinthehall
What about Abreu and Yoshida for for a package that includes Blake Mitchell, Hunter Owen, & Josh Hansell?
The Red Sox farm is absolutely loaded with future pitching. They aren’t trading Abreu or Duran for prospects. It will depend on what they can sign in free agency to what they need most likely a pitcher like Bubic would need to be in the return for Duran or Abreu.
I guess the author thinks that there is going to be a lost year in 2027 because simple math says Boston controls Duran’s until 2029 which is three years.
Bubic Is a good picture but he’s injured and has not pitched since July. The Red Sox don’t need another injuried pitcher.
If the Royals don’t have a quality another outfield needy team like the Reds are probably a better fit. The Red Sox will most likely be looking for immediate pitching help someone to slot in behind Crochet in a trade for either Duran or Abreu.
This Royals fan would do Bubic and a minor league arm like Beam or Owen for Duran
Bubic is a wild card who pitched great last year coming back from a significant injury but adjusted for the park, was he much better than Giolito? For Duran, I think Boston is thinking of packaging him for someone better.
I think in the right trade they would move Abreu and slide Anthony into right.
Cleveland Gardeners (jardineros)…love it!
Very generous to include Yoshida among the outfielders xD
Bubic could theoretically address Breslow’s stated desire for a #2 starter.
Unless I’m missing something (very likely), I’m pretty sure Duran is under club control for 3 more seasons. He’s not a FA until 2029.
Bubic for Duran straight up seems like a win/win for everyone.
ba2929- The Royals would have to give up more than Bubic to get Duran. Bubic only has 1 more year left of control. I could see Bubic + Erceg for Duran or something along those lines.
Erceg isn’t going anywhere. Best you could hope for is a lower level arm like Beam or Owens.
All Star starters are in higher demand than good but not great OF.
I just wrote about Bubic. Who knows how he pitches on a full season schedule or in a hitter’s park. The Sox will move Duran but for someone without the injury history. Just my take.
Bubic would instantly be the second best pitcher in Boston and regardless of control a lefty with ace potential will ALWAYS be worth significantly more the a corner OF… if anything it’s the Red Sox that would have to add more
What would you Red Sox want from Mets for the rights to Duran?
NYM – I think it would take Vientos & Baty to get Duran.
Lol. Baty redeemed himself in my eyes and provides a good glove if Bregman doesn’t return but both could simply end up being a Chavis or Dalbec. For Duran, the Sox should only be looking for a starter, which the Mets don’t have available. Perhaps a three team deal could work but those are rare. They don’t match up unless the teams make other moves first that make more players trade able.
Not much to be expected out of the group of outfielders.
Their parents couldn’t even correctly spell their kid’s first names.
That’s starting a person off with one strike already against them.
The Caglianone’s misplaced a K, but the Misner’s found it and made good use of it.
Bubic for Adell makes sense; I can also see them spinning Kolek to Dodgers for Teoscar…
Although he is coming off a decent season as a starter, Bubic is not who I envision as Boston’s goal for a #2 SP.
Bubic is a better fit than say Joe Ryan when you look at his peripheral stats, and has age on his side. You might be able to do a trade contingent on getting a couple years extension done, considering historic earnings its probably feasible to lock Bubic up for 3 or 4 more years.
Ideally, a lower overall guarantee, but with bonuses for games started so he gets paid appropriately for either role he winds up in going forward.
Agree.
Kris Bubic for Adolis Garcia makes sense for all concerned. Each with a year left on contracts. Rangers may have to throw in a couple of million or a low level prospect to make the finances equal out.
I think Garcia will be non tendered if they don’t find a trade partner. Last couple years have been rough for him.
Cardinals have a bunch of outfielders that can be included in trades. Why not have them be put in the post?
Noot is hurt.
Burly is probably moving to 1B if they manage to move Contreras.
Scott is staying put.
Walker is terrible.
If you like Nathan Church a lot, make a offer. More than likely the Braves grabbed the St. Louis outfield surplus when they claimed Siani.
I believe in the Royals front office, they’ve done well the last 2 years. The India trade didn’t work out, but maybe there is still hope. Drew waters is depth only, he just doesn’t have it. Rave is way better imo. Massy fixed something late last year in his swing, 2B is his job to lose imo (defense there is solid). Also he looked decent in LF for India to play some 2B (massy moves to 2B if starts at LF and rave slides into LF…esp if pinch running for India, etc)
Taylor Ward for Steven Zobac
Sounds like Reds and Royals have similar outfield issues.
The difference is the Royals will probably do something about it.
Could envision Cincy or KC paying a premium 4-5 yr deal for Grisham off a career year since tougher for them to land FAs. Not saying it’s wise, but realistic.
Nick Castellanos available really cheap. Please take him.
Tigers.
Castellanos, Kirkering and Banks for
Estevez, zerpa and Cruz.