Royals Open to Dealing from Rotation Depth - But What Would It Take to Land Cole Ragans?
The Kansas City Royals are shaping up to be one of the more intriguing teams to watch this offseason - not because they’re chasing big-name free agents, but because they’re holding something every contender wants: starting pitching. And in a market that’s already tight on arms, that puts them in a position of strength.
Royals GM J.J. Picollo isn’t exactly hiding the team’s strategy.
“Our starting pitching, we have some depth there,” he said. “A lot of teams are looking for starting pitching, so 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.”
Translation: Kansas City’s phone lines are open - for the right price.
The name that keeps coming up in those conversations? Left-hander Cole Ragans.
After a breakout season that turned plenty of heads around the league, Ragans has become the crown jewel of the Royals’ rotation. And while Picollo stopped short of declaring him untouchable, he made it clear it would take a significant return to pry him loose.
“There would have to be a really big return for one [starter] in particular,” Picollo said, without naming names. But it’s no secret who he’s talking about.
Ragans gives Kansas City something every team covets - a young, high-upside lefty with swing-and-miss stuff and team control. That’s not the kind of arm you move unless someone blows you away.
And while the Royals would ideally like to land a right-handed-hitting outfielder in return, they’re not going to box themselves into that requirement. That flexibility could open the door for broader trade conversations - like the ones they reportedly had with Boston around the trade deadline involving outfielder Jarren Duran.
The Royals aren’t just dangling Ragans, though. They’ve got other pieces in play.
Kris Bubic, for example, is coming off a strong 2025 campaign - a 2.55 ERA over 20 starts - before a left rotator cuff strain cut his season short. With Bubic entering his final year of arbitration, Kansas City could look to capitalize on his value now, especially with Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha projected to anchor the rotation in 2026.
Speaking of Lugo and Wacha, Picollo acknowledged the club’s reluctance to move either veteran. Both signed on as free agents and helped stabilize the staff, and the Royals seem committed to keeping that veteran presence intact. That only reinforces how much they value Ragans - and how big an offer it would take to move him.
Elsewhere around the league, the market is already starting to take shape. Baltimore locked up reliever Ryan Helsley on a two-year, $28 million deal.
The Giants are hunting for modestly priced arms. The Mets are working to keep Kodai Senga in the fold.
And the Yankees are reportedly eyeing Kyle Tucker as a fallback if they can’t bring back Cody Bellinger.
But back in Kansas City, the focus is clear: leverage pitching depth to fill holes elsewhere - especially in the outfield. With the Royals showing they’re open for business, the question now becomes: who’s ready to pay the price?
Because if you're calling about Cole Ragans, you better come correct.