The Boston Red Sox have already made waves this offseason by acquiring veteran right-hander Sonny Gray, but don’t be surprised if they’re not done reshaping the rotation just yet. One name to keep an eye on: Cole Ragans.
According to reports, the Red Sox could pivot toward the Kansas City Royals’ All-Star lefty if the Royals make him available. And if that happens, Jarren Duran - a name that’s been floating in trade rumors for weeks - could be the key piece heading the other way.
The Royals aren’t exactly hiding their intentions. General manager J.J.
Piccolo made it clear that Kansas City is open to dealing from its rotation depth in exchange for outfield help. “A lot of teams are looking for starting pitching,” Piccolo said.
“If we have what they may be interested in, and they have an outfielder that would be of interest, then there’s potentially the opportunity to make a deal.”
That’s where Duran comes in. The Royals were reportedly interested in the Red Sox outfielder at the trade deadline, and while they’d prefer a right-handed bat, they’re not locked into that. Duran’s speed, energy, and breakout 2024 campaign have made him a valuable chip - and Boston might be willing to cash in if it means landing a top-of-the-rotation arm like Ragans.
Now, let’s talk about why Ragans would be such a big get.
At 27, Ragans is coming off a season that saw him finish fourth in AL Cy Young voting. He posted a 3.14 ERA and led the league in strikeouts per nine innings at 10.8 - elite company, especially in today’s game. He’s under team control through 2028 thanks to a team-friendly $13.25 million extension, which makes him not just a short-term upgrade, but a long-term building block.
But there’s a flip side. Ragans made only 13 starts in 2024 due to groin and shoulder issues, and his durability is still a question mark.
He’s had two Tommy John surgeries - one in 2018, another in 2019 - and 2024 was the only season in his four-year MLB career where he looked like a full-season ace. Even so, the underlying numbers suggest his stuff never went anywhere.
His 4.67 ERA may look pedestrian, but his 2.50 FIP and eye-popping 14.3 K/9 tell a different story. When he’s healthy, he’s nasty.
Of course, a pitcher with that kind of upside and team control won’t come cheap. Duran might headline the package, but Boston would almost certainly need to sweeten the deal with top-tier prospects. Think names like Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia, lefty Connelly Early, or southpaw Payton Tolle - all intriguing young pieces who could entice a rebuilding Royals club.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already shown he’s not afraid to swing big. The Garrett Crochet trade last offseason and the recent Gray acquisition prove that. If Ragans is on the table, Breslow may be ready to push more chips in for a rotation that could go from solid to scary.
Imagine this potential starting five heading into 2026:
- Garrett Crochet, LHP
- Cole Ragans, LHP
- Sonny Gray, RHP
- Brayan Bello, RHP
- Kutter Crawford, RHP
That top four can go toe-to-toe with just about any in baseball. Bello made major strides last season and could be poised for a breakout.
Crawford continues to show he belongs. And with depth options like Early, Patrick Sandoval, Payton Tolle, and Hunter Dobbins waiting in the wings, Boston would be in a strong position to weather the grind of a full season.
The free-agent pitching market isn’t exactly overflowing with frontline arms right now - especially after Dylan Cease landed a massive deal with the Blue Jays. That makes the trade market even more important, and Ragans might be the best arm still available.
If Breslow can pull this off, it wouldn’t just be another savvy move - it could be the one that turns Boston’s rotation into a true strength and positions the Red Sox to make a serious run in 2026.