The Royals have been fairly active this offseason on the trade market and have already worked out deals that brought outfielder Isaac Collins (alongside righty Nick Mears) and lefty setup man Matt Strahm to Kansas City. They’ve explored bigger trades than those throughout the winter as well, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported recently that the club is “increasingly unlikely” to be successful in their efforts to trade for either Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran or Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan. While that doesn’t completely rule out the club pulling off one of those deals, it’s surely disappointing news for Royals fans who had been dreaming on a big trade.
Upgrading the team’s lackluster outfield mix has been a priority in Kansas City this winter, and either Duran or Donovan surely offer a big boost. Duran is a full-time outfielder who has experience in both left field and center field, and would likely play center for the Royals if acquire. That would push Kyle Isbel into a depth role and move Lane Thomas over to right alongside Jac Caglianone. Donovan, meanwhile, is capable of playing all over the infield and outfield. If acquired, he’d likely split time between the outfield corners and second base. That would cut into playing time for Collins in left field, Caglianone in right field, and Jonathan India at second base while also moving Thomas into a timeshare with Isbel in center.
Either of those situations would substantially improve the Royals’ lineup, but it seems a deal coming together is a long shot at this point. That’s not necessarily a shock. The team’s top trade chip at this point might be southpaw Kris Bubic, but both Duran and Donovan are valuable enough that it would be hard to see them being moved for a rental player. Other pitchers on the roster like Cole Ragans and Noah Cameron would surely be more attractive, but taking a long-term piece out of the rotation that’s helped buoy the Royals to their solid 2024 and ’25 seasons (alongside Bobby Witt Jr.’s emergence as a superstar) seems like a tough pill for the team to swallow.
Without further additions, that would leave the team with Collins as the regular left field, Isbel in center, Caglianone in right, and Thomas spelling Isbel and Caglianone against left-handers. Dairon Blanco, Kameron Misner, and Drew Waters are depth options as well, though none is a lock to make the Kansas City roster at this point. It’s hard to see that group being anything more than below average, as the Royals posted the worst wRC+ in the majors (73) on the grass last year. Collins (122 wRC+) should be a substantial improvement over the production the club got out of left in 2025, and Caglianone could certainly take a step forward after a tough rookie campaign. But Thomas’s 48 wRC+ last year makes it hard to count on him offering impact to the team, while Isbel and the depth pieces seem unlikely to take meaningful steps forward.
Of course, Donovan and Duran aren’t the only ways the team could improve its offense. Perhaps a free agent like Mike Tauchman or Austin Hays will fall through the cracks and be available for relatively cheap later this offseason. It’s also possible that a different trade could come together. Players like Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, Jesus Sanchez of the Astros, and Ramon Laureano of the Padres have all found themselves in trade rumors this year, and while none has been directly connected to the Royals at this point it would certainly make sense for Kansas City to check in. Given the team’s pursuit of Donovan, perhaps even an infielder who could either take up a utility role themselves or push India into that sort of role could make sense. Cubs infielders Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw and Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. are among the players who have seen their names pop up in rumors lately, as have the Mets’ many young infield talents. Trade whispers in Queens, specifically, may only grow louder in the aftermath of the club’s recent signing of Bo Bichette.
It should hurt to get…
Thinking Royals should reconsider not trading for these players. I guess it all depends on how much they would have to give up.
Boston needs a 3b man and the Mets need an OF, Baty for Durán
Baty isn’t enough for Duran, and anyway it sounds like the Mets aren’t going to move him, which is probably smart as I’m less than convinced Polanco’s really going to play 1B full-time, or Bichette 3B. I think Semien’s gonna play third, Bichette second, and Baty and Polanco first/DH/LF. Vientos is the guy on the block. And they can sign a CF like Bader, or make a much smaller trade.
Best defense of current roster is adding Bichette. Baty the second half was good at the plate and deserves a shot (which is why I’d like as part of a trade to Boston). Semien should remain at second.
Meant to say Bichette should DH assuming Vientos doesn’t hit like in 24.
Let Boston include Yoshida, and you have a deal.
Yoshida is a good hitter. Just not worth his contract. Baty has promise but it will take a lot more to get Duran.
I think Caglianone will turn it around this year, much like Garcia did last year.
Stop promoting a trade of Nico Nick-o. I’m still concerned that Jed might move him as.more of a salary dump to get Cubs back under the first tier of the luxury tax. That’s exactly what happened last offseason after the Cubs acquired Tucker and then basically sold Belli to the Yankees.
I’m also increasingly unlikely to trade for Jarren Duran or Brendan Donovan.
Reds are unlikely to too.
Royals won’t be going after Jazz. Him and Garcia have some sort of weird beef with each other lol
With Jazz?? But he’s such a modest, soft-spoken guy.
Of course. Astros and Red Sox are talking about a trade already.
Royals already blew the budget on moving in the fences.
Good. Put the Duran trade rumors to rest. The Red Sox need his offense after losing Bregman.
Were they ever in danger of trading for them? Why trade for a Johnny Damon type when you’re just going to have to trade them 5 minutes later because they’re too good for you to extend?
To get a few years of their production.
Price is too steep. Should come down by the trade deadline.
Good. Boston is severely over-valuing Duran. They want a front line starter for what is essentially their 4th outfielder.
Duran is 13.4 WAR over the last two seasons and missed a total of 5 out of 324 games. What are you talking about?
Duran would not be a 4th outfielder. At least not in the traditional sense. He wouldnt go days without starting if the first three outfielders are playing. He would be in the lineup full time, whether at DH or any of the outfielders.
By that logic the Dodgers should just give up Glasnow for very little. He’s essentially their number 4 starter so therefore they should treat him like a number 4 starter.
The only thing that’s pushing him out is he’s the oldest of himself, Rafaela, Abreu, and Anthony and he doesn’t have a gold glove of Rafaela or Abreu or the potential Anthony has. But beyond that, he’s a still a solid left fielder. One of the better ones in the league over the all few years. Boston isn’t going to give him away. They’ll sooner cut ties with Yoshida and use DH a rotating rest spot.
Well said Saber!
Starting to think that the ask for Donovan is a bit much for all teams. Lots of rumors, lots of players, but no winner. After all STL doesn’t have to move him just to make another team better.
There’s more strategy than ‘player overvalued’ for a deal not happening yet. Yes,they are asking for too much, but its for a bigger stategy. No games will be played until end of March/April. If I were a GM, I’d ask too much as well, until it was the optimal time to deal someone. In this case, Donovan’s value will peak before the end of ST, which is when I’d be looking to lower the return.
Of course not the Sox want the moon for Duran. If I am any GM I just say keep him and next year your price will drop in half.
And you get one less year of Duran (at his lowest cost). He becomes more expensive with arbitration but at $8m for this year, he has great appeal and value.
Duran has 3 years left on his current contract. How does waiting a year, take half off?
They let Dwight Evans play his last season elsewhere but I still hope they can make Duran a life long Red Sox.
They don’t have a spot for him to play right now so it would make sense to move him somewhere. Like it or not they’re stuck with their mistake signing of Yoshida and Anthony absolutely had to play ahead of Duran. And Rafaela and Abreu are locked in at CF and RF.
Different owner, different times.
In an ideal world Jo Adell would add pop in KC and bring back prospects to Anaheim.
The former can actually win a playoff spot this year or next if it happens.
Remember when a lot of folks on here would have traded Adell for a bag of balls?
@heydude2026. That probably still exists. Adell was like ward in a sense took awhile to develop.
Duran for Garcia! Straight up! Solves both teams problems!
Ok, serious now… Despite the Sox having enough outfielders to deal from, there’s no urgency to get rid of Duran so yes they’re going to ask for the moon.
No need. Just pick up Nick Castellanos for free
Baty hits LH; Donovan hits LH. All winter long, the Red Sox have been looking for a RH hitter. Come on, son! Plus… Neither of them are much better than what the Sox already have.
No more trades! Spring Training will sort out any deficiencies the Sox have, and I am confident that the FO will do what is necessary to make the team better before OD.
I reject the premise of this article.
Duran or Pitcher(s) to Chicago for Nico and another. Get it done. Its a match for both teams.