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 acquired. 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 in 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.
Ready to eat Half slab of fully cooked baby back ribs from Tony Roma’s and a case of frozen Red Lobster cheddar biscuits for Brendan Donovan.
Yum.
Make a foil tent over the ribs and put the biscuits inside. Unless you prefer them frozen.
I’d rather have freshly baked cheddar biscuits but I don’t think Brendan Donovan is worth the freshly baked ones.
Brendon Donovan is so good the Cardinals traded Tommy Edman to LA to give him more playing time for some washed up sucker named Eric Fedde
Package yoshida, hicks, and duran for bubic, no money going either way, and you can make up in cash what you dont have for talent.
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.
Yoshida is not a good hitter. He seems like he should be but he just isn’t.
He hardly ever walks, doesn’t have much power, and doesn’t even really hit for much average. He’s a 32 year old with an mlb career .762 OPS (down to .696 last year) which would be ok if he played SS or C but since he only plays LF (and plays it poorly enough that he should arguably be limited to playing DH) that’s not good enough.
He would make an ok left-handed hitting pinch-hitter if this was 1981 but nowadays I wouldn’t want him taking up one of my 4 position player bench spots because of his lack of defensive versatility and lack of much speed and that doesn’t even take into consideration his underwater contract.
“Yoshida is not a good hitter.”
Nine percent better than average for his career.
Ridiculous proposal
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.
Cave yet they won’t do an article about yo.
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.
I think the decision to move in the outfield is actually related. Duran has great range in CF just like Isbel and Kauffman has a big OF.
Once they committed to Caglione full-time in the OF, moving in the fences reduce his deficiencies.
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.
Johnny Damon? He’s closer to Kyle Tucker
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!
Duran is a solid center fielder, that plays left, because of Rafaela
Duran was 2nd amongst MLB OFs in defensive bWAR in 2024 (behind Varsho) so he’s at least very near gold glove caliber himself.
If I’m the Red Sox I would align against RHP with Anthony, Duran and Abreu across the outfield and Mayer, Story, Rafaella, Contreras infield with Narvaez at C and Casas at DH.
Against LHP you probably want to get Campbell and Romy in there for 2 of Abreu, Mayer, Casas which can be accomplished by moving Cedanne to CF and Duran to RF and plugging in Romy at 2B and Campbell at 3rd or DH
Did you forget that we currently have Yoshida as the DH? He has not been cut yet and I don’t expect him to be. Campbell needs more time in the minors to figure things out and we don’t even know if Casas has fully recovered. I would not be counting on either Casas or Campbell at this point.
For the right player you trade Duran, if there is not a match I agree you keep him in the outfield and bring Rafaela back to the infield.
@Uncle Pedro’s Dancing Kittens
Duran’s a fine player, but let’s not act like he’s transcendent. He’ll never reach the height of a couple of years ago and that shouldn’t be a knock against him, but he is what he is. If he were half as valuable as Red Sox fans think he is, Boston would be open to trading any of their outfielders, not just him.
The truth is, Boston doesn’t trust him in big spots. He has an embarrassing lifetime line of .183/.270/.266/.536 vs. the Yankees and topped that off with a 1 for 11 and a memorable error against NY in last year’s wild card series.
THAT’S why Duran is available and the others are not.
I don’t put Duran on a pedestal and do consider him the preferable outfielder to trade, primarily due to his age. I just don’t see any reason to trade him unless it is for an impactful player that meets a need.
@ Uncle Pedro’s Dancing Kittens
Fair enough.
How many of you don’t read well? Or understand what is written? I didn’t say “A” fourth outfielder, I said “THEIR” fourth outfielder. Why are they looking to trade him specifically? Because they are full in the outfield.
Still, he isn’t worth a front line starter.
twenty:
I understood what you said, and I said he wont be THEIR fourth outfielder in the “traditional sense”.
Heres the definition of a fourth outfielder:
“In baseball, a fourth outfielder refers to a reserve player who isn’t a regular starter but can play all three outfield spots (left, center, right) and serves as a defensive replacement, pinch hitter, or platoon player, often valued for defense/speed over hitting”
—-
Duran would be a full time starter, just not always in the outfield. Thats not what a “fourth starter” is. Why are you trying to belittle his value?
I actually wasn’t referring to you. I’m not belittling his value. His value is NOT an ace.
Several teams are looking for outfield help, yet he remains in Boston. That should be obvious Boston is over-valuing him.
So every player that is not yet traded, is over-valued?
twentyfiveman:
Baseball isnt playing games. Red Sox first game is March 27th. There’s no loss in not trading him.
Why make any deals now unless youre blown away by an offer? Better to just hold on and see what happens, Like many teams are doing right now with tradeable assets: Stl, NYM, ChiC, Ariz., KC, etc. Its also insurance if Rafaela, Anthony, Matsusaka or Abreu get hurt.
Boson is looking for catching depth. Royals are ‘flush’ with catching talent.
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.
Most teams won’t wait that long to fulfill their needs. Injuries may produce more suitors by then though.
Im not saying this applies to every players.
Injuries and player failures will create the holes. By the 2nd week of ST, there will be several teams in need of a player that can play anywhere. Donovan will be very valuable by then, because he’s not pigeon holed to one or two positions.
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?
What if Duran has year more like 2024 than 2025 . My guess he would be even more valuable with two years of control left. If he has a bad year then yes his value would drop but he’s likely going to be a 4 or 5 war player with two more years of control after this year. He won’t lose much value if at all.
The value to Duran is his ability, not results constrained by playing in a different position.
If you had 6 pitchers of Skubal/skenes/crochet talent, and one gets bumped from the rotation, that doesnt mean he’s got the value of a basic RP. People seem to not be understanding that basic concept.
Some fans vastly overrate their own understanding of baseball and baseball economics so that’s not suprising.
And he is only a LF because the RS might have the best in the game in CF.
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.
I would not say Rafaela is locked in at CF. That is where he should be but if they can’t get reasonable value for Duran he is not going anywhere.
Different owner, different times.
The solution is give Casas one more shot at a healthy season and if he can’t do it move Roman Anthony to First Base. Keeps possibly the best defensive Outfield on the field without having to rotate one of them through DH or an off day
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.
@Heydude2026
C’mon, he only had a 1.2 fWAR last year…okay, TWO bags of balls, then.
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.
What about Duran at 2B where he played before coming up to the Majors. If Mookie can go from 2B (minors) to RF (majors) to SS (majors) why not Duran?
Mookie played over 300 games in the infield in his career in the minors and on the Red Sox, before going to LA. Duran played 20 games in Lowell back in 2018. Two completely different beasts.
Im okay with Duran staying, its not a bad thing. But, I doubt Breslow will want his poor defense at 2B. He’d probably start at DH, while also rotating in and out of the outfield.
Duran hasn’t played 2B since A ball in 2018. That’s a fairly long time ago now. It is an intriguing idea though
The Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez a trade with the Royals isn’t happening. Any leverage KC had is gone now the Red Sox have among the best rotations in baseball and depth second to none. Nothing to see here the Royals aren’t getting Duran.
Bruin, except if the Royals were to give up Ragans, the Sox would have less worries about giving up pitching to get Marte (example only). Even a kid.
Aside from the fact if we believe word about marte, its a done deal no trades happen, not before the deadline.
Hazen himself told reporters he feels if he went back on his claim marte is off the market he loses all credibility as a GM.
Thats a really strong corner to paint yourself into and reconsider a trade.
Itd take something beyond absurd like duran, arias, tolle, early, plus one more to give him an excuse – aka something so radical and stupid from the red sox end it wouldnt happen.
I’ve seen a lot of suggestions around baty as the centerpiece of a duran trade, which makes sense but would probably cost a lot for mets as compared to trying to trade for donovan to play LF, where they could keep baty and not give up as much in prospects.
BTV
Duran $44 million
Baty $24 million
Donovan $32 million
BTV is a good approximation of value, but i would think baty trending upward with two extra years of control and at a position thats more in demand than donovan who is likely not going to get much better.
Come on man, your NY bias is showing. All those factors are baked in to those valuations.
Again, those valuations aren’t perfect and not much bias here. Donovan is a nice player with no real strong defensive position. Baty was a top prospect who seems to be coming into his own. No shot im trading baty for donovan straight up. Lets revisit next offseason and we’ll see.
BTV is quite bad at these approximations in general, but it’s especially bad here. Donovan for 2 years isn’t worth half of Duran for 3 years given the extreme difference in past performance, even with a slightly higher $ cost for Duran.
Baty does not solve the need for a righty bat and Duran is a better offensive player. Makes no sense for the Sox to make that trade.
Baty isn’t the ideal fit, and there’s no way the Red Sox should do that straight up, but Baty at 3rd and Masa at DH vs RHPs is better than Duran at DH/LF and Romy at 2nd; not to mention the lack of depth behind Mayer at 3rd.
So it definitely makes some sense to discuss at this point in the off-season as options are drying up.
Breslow should just wait let spring training open there will be a team that thinks they can contend that will have a significant arm injury and Boston will have the deepest collection of arms. The other advantage of waiting we can see how Crawford and Sandoval look in spring. Crawford didn’t have an arm injury and Sandoval, who had internal brace surgery, will be more than 19 months away from surgery. If they look good in spring training they become viable arms that can be moved. It makes sense to wait until spring training at this point to see what happens.
The Red Sox rotation and rotation are both very good and deep. When the trade deadline comes they will likely be one of the few teams that trade controllable starting pitching for the offensive piece or pieces they need.
Bruin- The big issue is that all the players the Red Sox are rumored to be looking at as a trade partner for Duran are not an offensive upgrade/not right handed. If they can find a match that improves the team, they should trade Duran. If not I agree that they should wait until spring training. They are bound to have an injury or two, so having too many pitchers and outfielders is not necessarily a bad thing.
Teams today trade only when they must and the team trading the star rarely gets value. Lindor for example. All that remains of that deal are two low minors pitchers.
With the Royals moving in the fences Duran would become a singles hitter. Not worth it.
With the Royals moving in the fences Duran would become a singles hitter.
=========================
Your working hypothesis here being that moving in the fences means less HRs?
3 way trade maybe, duran to royals, bubic to Sacramento, langeliers to Boston.
Stupidity
Guy can’t possibly be an A’s fan…
Kris Bubic and Blake Mitchell for Jarred Duran
Not close. Even if it was, the RS are no longer in the market for anSP.
Mentally preparing myself for yet another losing season as JJ fails to make a bold move for players who can actually hit and instead opts to spend $5 million to move the fences in at the corners so his lackluster choices might hit home runs.
If you look up the word “pathetic” in the dictionary, it just says Kansas City Royals. I’m throwing in the towel. If this franchise wants to leave KC, I wish they’d hurry up and leave.
“Meanwhile” has to START the sentence, not come in the middle between commas. And there shouldn’t be commas around “specifically.” It needs no commas.