Why Red Sox-Royals trade rumor involving Jarren Duran, Cole Ragans isn't a done deal yet

Billy Heyen

•
Why Red Sox-Royals trade rumor involving Jarren Duran, Cole Ragans isn't a done deal yet image

The Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals are trying to be trade partners.

They just can't quite agree on all the details yet.

That's what The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported on Monday: Boston wants Cole Ragans from Kansas City, and the Royals want Jarren Duran from the Red Sox.

The problem is that the Royals don't view that as an equal value.

This is what Rosenthal explained:

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.

Both Ragans, 28, and Duran, 29, are under club control for three more seasons, with Ragans under contract for a combined $12 million in 2026-27 and Duran for $7.75 million in ’26. The Royals, though, see Ragans as a player with greater value, a potential Game 1 starter in a postseason series.

MORE: Christian Yelich shows his puppy a proper appreciation of Tavon Austin

Duran would be an exciting addition for the Royals. He'd join Bobby Witt Jr. As two speedy, gap-hitting, extra-base machines.

Losing Ragans would be huge, though. The lefty has developed into an ace for the Royals, and trading a front-end starter for an outfielder that everyone knows is probably going to get dealt is probably accurately viewed as not equal value.

Can the Red Sox and Royals find a compromise? If not, Duran will probably still move but instead to somewhere else.

More MLB news:

Contributing Writer