According to a new report in The Athletic, the Kansas City Royals are still a potential trade suitor for Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, however, they are under the assumption that the asking price is too high.

Even after signing free agent Lane Thomas and trading for Isaac Collins, the Kansas City Royals are open to adding another outfielder – most notably Jarren Duran, if the Boston Red Sox lower their asking price.

The Royals are under the impression Duran would cost them left-hander Cole Ragans, though the Red Sox view the initial talks as more informal and exploratory, according to people briefed on the conversations.

About Duran

Now 29 years old, Duran was the All-Star Game MVP in 2024, though he took a modest step back in 2025. 

He hit .256 for the Red Sox with 16 homers and 84 RBIs while also stealing 24 bases. He posted a 114 OPS+ but led the American League in triples with 13. He also had 40+ doubles for the second straight year.

Even in a 'down' season, he was still an impact player and he'd be a major upgrade to a Royals team that missed the playoffs. Duran is under team control for three more years.

About Ragans

Also under team control for three more years, the lefty was also an All-Star in 2024 who had a down year in 2025. He made just 13 starts because of injury, going 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA. He has elite strikeout stuff, as he fanned 98 in 61.2 innings, but again, he has only 1.5 years of great performance under his belt.

He was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 2024, striking out 223 batters in 186.1 innings.

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Is that a realistic asking price?

Again, we don't know that this is the Red Sox' true asking price, or if its just the Royals gut feeling, but either way, it feels like too much to give up.

Ragans is a Game 1 playoff starter for Kansas City. It doesn't seem realistic to move him for a player the Red Sox want to move to clear up their roster logjam in the outfield. The Red Sox don't need to move Duran, but they also don't have a whole lot of leverage. Other teams know the Red Sox want to move an outfielder, and that makes it less likely that they get top offer.

Kris Bubic was an All-Star for the Royals in 2025 - and he's headed into the final year of his contract. That's likely a more realistic starting point.

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