Kansas City continues to pursue the Red Sox outfielder, but price remains a sticking point.
The Kansas City Royals have been busy this offseason, but according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, they are not done shopping for outfield help just yet.
Even after signing free agent Lane Thomas to a one-year deal and trading for Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City remains open to adding another outfielder and their top target appears to be Boston Red Sox star Jarren Duran.
What Rosenthal Reported
According to Rosenthal, the Royals would be interested in pursuing Duran if Boston lowers its asking price.
The Red Sox reportedly want left-hander Cole Ragans in return for their All-Star outfielder, and Kansas City does not see that as an even exchange.
Both Ragans and Duran are under club control for three more seasons, but the Royals view their ace as a potential Game 1 postseason starter and believe he holds greater value than what Boston is offering.
Why The Royals Should Make This Trade
The Royals finished 82-80 in 2025 and missed the playoffs after making a Wild Card run the year before, and their outfield was a major reason why.
Kansas City's outfield ranked among the worst in baseball offensively last season, and while the additions of Thomas and Collins help fill some holes, neither player is a true impact bat.
Duran would change that immediately.
The 29-year-old hit .256 with a .774 OPS in 2025 while leading the American League in triples with 13 and finishing third in the AL in doubles with 41.
He also added 16 home runs, 84 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases across 157 games.
His elite speed ranks in the 98th percentile in baserunning run value according to Baseball Savant, and he brings three years of club control at just $7.75 million in 2026.
For a Royals team that desperately needs a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat alongside Bobby Witt Jr., Duran would instantly become the second-best player in the lineup.
Why The Royals Should Not Make This Trade
The problem is the price tag that Boston has placed on Duran. Giving up Ragans would gut the Royals rotation at a time when they need pitching to stay competitive.
Ragans was an All-Star in 2024 when he went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts in 186.1 innings pitched.
He dealt with injuries in 2025 and finished the year with a 4.67 ERA in 13 starts, but when healthy he has proven to be one of the best young arms in the American League.
He is also on a team-friendly contract that pays him just $1.25 million in 2025 before bumping to $4.5 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027.
Trading a cost-controlled frontline starter for an outfielder who struggled some in 2025 after a breakout 2024 campaign does not make sense for Kansas City, especially when the rotation already has questions.
The Red Sox went 89-73 and made the playoffs last season, so they have less pressure to move Duran at a discount just to get a deal done.
What Comes Next
The Royals clearly believe they can improve their outfield without giving up Ragans. Between Collins, Thomas, Jac Caglianone, and Kyle Isbel, Kansas City has more depth than they did heading into 2025, but none of those players have the upside that Duran brings to the table.
If Boston lowers its asking price and shifts away from demanding Ragans, a deal could still get done before spring training arrives.
For now, both sides remain at a standstill as they wait to see who blinks first.