A's Targeting Royals' Kris Bubic as Trade Deadline Nears

The Oakland Athletics are showing interest in Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic as the trade deadline approaches. Bubic, who is a free agent after the season, has drawn attention from multiple teams due to his recent performance and injury history. With the Royals at 27-39 and unlikely to contend, Bubic is a potential trade candidate for a team in need of starting pitching help.

Bubic has been sidelined since May 14 due to throwing elbow soreness and is currently on the 15-day injured list. He has been participating in bullpen sessions and is on a standard throwing progression. However, any elbow issue raises concerns given Bubic’s injury history, which includes a Tommy John surgery and a rotator cuff strain that limited him to just 213 innings since the start of the 2023 season.

Bubic’s performance this season has been inconsistent. Over his first nine starts in 2026, he has posted a 4.11 ERA over 50 1/3 innings. While he still strikes out batters at a decent rate, his 12.6% walk rate is higher than his career average of 9.4%. Additionally, hitters are chasing his pitches less often and are finding more success against his sweeper and low-90s fastball.

Despite these concerns, Bubic could still be a valuable rental for a contender. He has approximately $3.88 million remaining on his $6.15 million salary for the season, making him an affordable option for teams looking for short-term help. If he returns to the rotation within a couple of weeks, several teams, including the A’s, are expected to closely monitor his readiness as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.

The A’s are in a tight race for the American League West and are currently 31-34. They have a rotation that includes Jeffrey Springs, J.T. Ginn, Jack Perkins, and two rookies in Gage Jump and Kade Morris. Jump has impressed with a 2.45 ERA over 13 1/3 innings, but the A’s may not want to rely on him alone in a playoff push.

Injuries to Luis Severino and Aaron Civale have further thinned the rotation, prompting the A’s to consider adding a veteran like Bubic. Sutter Health Park is a hitter-friendly venue, but Bubic’s career 45.7% grounder rate could be an asset. This season, he has a 43.8% ground ball rate, slightly below his career average.

The Royals are likely to hold out hope for a late-season turnaround, but with their current trajectory, a trade for Bubic could be on the horizon. The A’s will continue to evaluate their options and decide if a move to bolster their rotation is necessary before the deadline.