Athletics have trade interest in Royals 4.11 ERA All-Star left-handed starter

Athletics have trade interest in Royals 4.11 ERA All-Star left-handed starter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Athletics might not be a top World Series contender this season, but their lineup is good enough to make the postseason if their pitching staff can improve.

At 30-34, the Athletics are 3.5 games out of the top spot in the AL West, but only 1.0 game back in the AL Wild Card field. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the A’s bought at this year’s trade deadline, and if they do, starting pitching is a must.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Athletics have shown trade interest in Kansas City Royals 4.11 ERA All-Star starting pitcher, Kris Bubic, well ahead of the deadline.

Athletics have interest in trade for Royals’ Kris Bubic

“The Athletics have shown interest in Royals starter Kris Bubic to help out their struggling rotation,” Nightengale reports.

With the A’s searching for rotation help, it’s not a surprise that they’ve been showing interest in Bubic this season already.

The All-Star left-hander has a 4.11 ERA this season, though he’s currently on the injured list. He’s 28 years old and will be a free agent after the 2026 season ends.

While it might make more sense for the Athletics to trade for someone who will be around for the 2027 season as well, Bubic could help this team sneak into the postseason and also form a connection ahead of his free agency.

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The A’s need to find pitching talent to come to Las Vegas in a few years, and signing Bubic to a long-term deal might be easier if they trade for him at the deadline, build a connection, and then work out a long-term deal this offseason.

That would be the dream scenario after a Bubic trade, but even if he’s only around for just the remainder of the 2026 season, he’d provide the Athletics the spark they need in the rotation to make a run for the postseason.

This report from Nightengale is worth keeping tabs on as the deadline approaches. With less than two months to go, the Athletics might be getting closer and closer to acquiring a new starter in Bubic, who would be a big help for the rotation this season.