Royals' All-Star lefty with 3.97 ERA headlines six Kansas City trade candidates
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Royals' All-Star lefty with 3.97 ERA headlines six Kansas City trade candidates originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Kansas City Royals are off to a very disappointing start to the 2026 MLB season. Most of the attention seems to be on the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros for early-season struggles.
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The Royals, meanwhile, are 7-15 and are tied for the worst record in Major League Baseball. For a team that had postseason aspirations, this start to the year has been a major letdown.
If things don't turn around, the Royals might be looking at a mini fire sale at the trade deadline. ESPN's David Schoenfield identified All-Star lefty pitcher Kris Bubic as the headliner among five other trade candidates this season if things don't improve.
Kris Bubic leads six trade candidates for Royals
"Trade candidate: Kris Bubic (FA)," Schoenfield writes. "Other free agents include relievers Matt Strahm and John Schreiber, second baseman Jonathan India, and outfielders Starling Marte and Lane Thomas."
With the Royals off to such a terrible start to the 2026 season, it would not be a surprise if the trade deadline rolled around and they were sellers.
Bubic, the lefty who has a 3.97 ERA this season, following his All-Star 2.55 ERA last year, is likely the top trade candidate. Starting pitchers are incredibly valuable in trade talks, and Bubic, a lefty All-Star, would be a great rental for a contender.
Strahm and Schreiber are two others to watch, as relievers typically receive significant interest at the trade deadline.
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India would be a worthy trade candidate as well, as it could fetch a decent return for a team in need of a solid all-around infielder.
Marte and Thomas are more depth options, but such players do get dealt every year, and the Royals would surely have a few chances to trade one of those outfielders.
Overall, all six of these trade candidates noted by Schoenfield are in the last years of their deals and would bring back some value. 2026 is off to a brutal start, and if things don't get better, getting some value out of these outgoing free agents makes sense.
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