Matt Johnson
The Kansas City Royals entered the 2026 season with aspirations of competing for a playoff spot. Now more than 25 games into the season, they are tied for the second-worst record in the American League and seem destined to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline.
Examing the team’s situation, MLB insider Robert Murray shared his belief that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic will be traded by the Royals this summer.
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“The Royals are struggling. Bubic is in the final season of his contract. All ingredients for a potential deadline trade. Bubic’s track record will have teams intrigued. A left-handed arm, he posted a 2.67 ERA in 27 games in 2024. He posted a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts last season. His numbers have fallen off slightly this season, with a 4.08 ERA in five starts, but he’s allowing fewer hits (six hits per nine innings) and slightly more strikeouts per nine innings (9.1 this season; 9 last season). If the Royals’ slide continues, Bubic is almost a sure thing to be traded.”
Robert Murray on if the Kansas City Royals will trade Kris Bubic
- Kris Bubic contract (Spotrac): $6.15 million salary in 2026, MLB free agent in 2026-27
Bubic, who doesn’t turn 29 until August 19, earned his first All-Star selection this past season with Kansas City. The 6-foot-3 southpaw was excellent on the mound in 2025, registering a 2.55 ERA with a 24.4 percent strikeout rate and holding opponents to a .227 batting average allowed across 116.1 innings.
He’s only pitched 146.2 innings in the previous two seasons, but he compiled a 2.58 ERA with a 155-44 K-BB ratio and 7.6 H/9 during that span. Across five starts this season, he sports a career-best 6.0 H/9 to pair with an improved 25.7 percent strikeout rate. However, he does have a 4.08 ERA across 28.2 innings, having allowed four-plus runs in a pair of starts.
It seems unlikely that Kansas City would be able to sign Bubic to a new deal this offseason, with the California native poised to cash in this winter in MLB free agency. So, barring a dramatic turnaround, it’s reasonable to think that Bubic will be one of the starting pitchers moved by the MLB trade deadline.
