Royals get bad news amid trade update on Red Sox, Cardinals star outfielders

The Kansas City Royals have been scouring the market for outfield additions this offseason, and while they’ve made a few moves, more still could be on the horizon.

Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas, combined with Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel, make up the current group, but more could be coming. At least, that was the case.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Royals are not likely to swing a trade for an outfielder, with Boston Red Sox star Jarren Duran and St. Louis Cardinals star Brendan Donovan unlikely to come to Kansas City.

Royals get bad news on trades for star outfielders

“The Kansas City Royals are increasingly unlikely to land either of the two hitters they pursued in trades: the St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan and Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran,” Rosenthal reports.

This is a tough report for the Royals, in that they desperately need outfield help, and two of the most likely players who could be on the move are no longer realistic options for the team.

Duran is the odd man out in the Red Sox outfield, and they’re more than open to moving on from him this winter. The same can be said for Donovan, as the Cardinals are in a full-scale rebuild.

However, despite the Royals’ dire need, and both the Red Sox and Cardinals entertaining offers for both, Kansas City’s outfielder isn’t expected to get either young star outfielder.

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Rosenthal does mention that the infield being as strong as it is should limit the negative impact of the weak outfield, but seeing the current outfield group, it’s hard to have a lot of confidence going forward.

Caglianone has plenty of potential, but Collins’ breakout season might be a fluke, Thomas has struggled a lot in recent years, and Isbel isn’t a difference-maker.

These aren’t the worst options, but a true star with this group would go a long way for the Royals. They could use a bigger bat, but instead, they look poised to head into 2026 with this group.

A move could still happen, but based on this report, neither Donovan nor Duran looks likely for the Royals. It’s unfortunate, as either would’ve been a massive upgrade for the Royals in 2026 and beyond.