The Kansas City Royals enter 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.
Examining the team situation, MLB insider Robert Murray shared his belief that All-Star pitcher Chris Bubick 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 the ingredients for a potential deadline trade. Bubic's track record will appeal to teams. A left-hander, 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 declined slightly this season, with a 4.08 ERA in five starts, but he's allowing less Has hits (six hits per nine innings) and slightly more strikeouts per nine innings (9.1 this season; 9 last season). If the Royals' decline continues, Bubic is almost certain to be traded.
Robert Murray on whether the Kansas City Royals will trade Kris Bubic
- Chris Bubic contract (Spotrac): $6.15 million salary in 2026, MLB free agent in 2026-27
Bubic, who won't turn 29 until Aug. 19, earned his first All-Star selection with Kansas City last season. The 6-foot-3 southpaw excelled on the mound in 2025, posting a 2.55 ERA with a 24.4 percent strikeout rate and holding opponents to a .227 batting average in 116.1 innings.
He only pitched 146.2 innings over the past two seasons, but he compiled a 2.58 ERA with a 155-44 K-BB ratio and 7.6 H/9 during that span. In five starts this season, he posted a career-best 6.0 H/9 with a strikeout rate of 25.7 percent. However, he has a 4.08 ERA in 28.2 innings, in which he has allowed more than four runs in a pair of starts.
It seems unlikely that Kansas City will be able to work out a new deal with Bubic this off-season, with the California native set to cash in on MLB free agency this winter. So, barring a dramatic turnaround, it's reasonable to think Bubic will be one of the starting pitchers moved ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
