{"id":2193826,"date":"2025-12-10T18:02:06","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T18:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2193826"},"modified":"2025-12-10T18:02:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T18:02:06","slug":"royals-gm-sends-message-to-prospective-cole-ragans-trade-suitors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/royals-gm-sends-message-to-prospective-cole-ragans-trade-suitors\/","title":{"rendered":"Royals GM Sends Message To Prospective Cole Ragans Trade Suitors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div q:key=\"QW_4\"><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=6r q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>One could make an excellent case that Cole Ragans&#39; season being derailed was the number-one reason the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/royals\/onsi\/news\/why-royals-made-surprising-8-million-jonathan-india-decision-report-jackson3\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Royals<\/a> missed the playoffs.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6s q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6t\">One could make an excellent case that Cole Ragans&#8217; season being derailed was the number-one reason the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/royals\/onsi\/news\/why-royals-made-surprising-8-million-jonathan-india-decision-report-jackson3\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Royals<\/a> missed the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=6u q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Yes, the Royals were still top-five in runs allowed across Major League Baseball this year. But Ragans was such a tone-setter at the top of the rotation last year, and after he struck out 226 batters in 2024, no one on the Kansas City staff punched out more than 127 this year (Michael Lorenzen).<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6v q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6w\">Yes, the Royals were still top-five in runs allowed across Major League Baseball this year. But Ragans was such a tone-setter at the top of the rotation last year, and after he struck out 226 batters in 2024, no one on the Kansas City staff punched out more than 127 this year (Michael Lorenzen).<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=6x q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>With three years of team control remaining for Ragans and the Royals desperate for offense, there&#39;s been plenty of speculation that the ace could be dealt for a haul of position player talent. But it has become clear at the winter meetings that Kansas City is not itching to pull the trigger. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6y q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6z\">With three years of team control remaining for Ragans and the Royals desperate for offense, there&#8217;s been plenty of speculation that the ace could be dealt for a haul of position player talent. But it has become clear at the winter meetings that Kansas City is not itching to pull the trigger. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=70 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p><em>If you like our content,&nbsp;<\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\"><em>choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google<\/em><\/a><em>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=71 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"72\"><em>If you like our content,\u00a0<\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\"><em>choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google<\/em><\/a><em>. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=73 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Royals&#39; stance on Ragans trade <\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=74 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"75\">Royals&#8217; stance on Ragans trade <\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=76 q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_7658,h_4307,x_0,y_57\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_royals\/01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n--><!--qv q:id=77 q:key=VjqC:mL_1--><!--qv q:id=78 q:key=deAA:7d_2--><!--qv q:s q:sref=78 q:key=--><!--qv q:id=79 q:key=deAA:7d_1--><!--qv q:s q:sref=79 q:key=--><!--qv q:id=7a q:key=cHU9:7d_0--><!--qv q:id=7b q:key=deAA:e2_0--><!--qv q:id=7c q:key=B0c2:SZ_1--><\/p>\n<figure q:key=\"9m_3\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=7c q:key=--><!--qv q:s q:sref=7b q:key=--><\/p>\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden bg-lightGrey undefined\" on:qvisible=\"q-D7JgwvP1.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"7d\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 1x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 2x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 1x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 2x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 1x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 2x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_57,w_7658,h_4307\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kc4nfnrwk6yx0yk23n.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/p>\n<p><figcaption q:id=\"7f\">May 16, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=7g q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>On Monday, general manager J.J. Picollo addressed the media in Orlando and he strongly hinted that Ragans would stay in a Royals uniform for the new year, even saying somewhat definitively that he wouldn&#39;t be considered a trade candidate. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7h q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7i\">On Monday, general manager J.J. Picollo addressed the media in Orlando and he strongly hinted that Ragans would stay in a Royals uniform for the new year, even saying somewhat definitively that he wouldn&#8217;t be considered a trade candidate. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=7j q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>&ldquo;It would be really difficult for us to trade Cole,&rdquo; Picollo said, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/royals\/news\/royals-winter-meetings-focus-adding-impact-bat\" target=\"_blank\">per Anne Rogers<\/a> of MLB.com. &ldquo;When Cole is right, he&rsquo;s as good as anybody in the game. It&rsquo;s rare that you get an opportunity to have somebody like that, and we have him for three more years. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7k q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7l\">\u201cIt would be really difficult for us to trade Cole,\u201d Picollo said, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/royals\/news\/royals-winter-meetings-focus-adding-impact-bat\" target=\"_blank\">per Anne Rogers<\/a> of MLB.com. \u201cWhen Cole is right, he\u2019s as good as anybody in the game. It\u2019s rare that you get an opportunity to have somebody like that, and we have him for three more years. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=7m q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>&#34;It&rsquo;s fun to talk about, but the reality is, if we didn&rsquo;t have Cole Ragans in our rotation, we&rsquo;d feel like we&rsquo;re missing something really big. When you think about our four pillars, it starts with pitching. ...We&rsquo;re in a really good spot, so if the right trade comes along, and it costs us a starting pitcher, we have to look at it. It&rsquo;s just not going to be Cole.&rdquo; <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7n q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7o\">&#8220;It\u2019s fun to talk about, but the reality is, if we didn\u2019t have Cole Ragans in our rotation, we\u2019d feel like we\u2019re missing something really big. When you think about our four pillars, it starts with pitching. &#8230;We\u2019re in a really good spot, so if the right trade comes along, and it costs us a starting pitcher, we have to look at it. It\u2019s just not going to be Cole.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=7p q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The only issue with that stance, if you could call it an issue, is that Ragans might be the only starter the Royals have who could net them a true impact bat. Kris Bubic&#39;s market seems to be somewhat depressed due to his injury and impending free agency, which leaves the Royals choosing from names like Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, and Luinder Avila. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7q q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7r\">The only issue with that stance, if you could call it an issue, is that Ragans might be the only starter the Royals have who could net them a true impact bat. Kris Bubic&#8217;s market seems to be somewhat depressed due to his injury and impending free agency, which leaves the Royals choosing from names like Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, and Luinder Avila. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=7s q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Still, Ragans has Cy Young upside, and most would agree the Royals were in the right if they shut down any and all trade offers for him the rest of the way.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7t q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7u\">Still, Ragans has Cy Young upside, and most would agree the Royals were in the right if they shut down any and all trade offers for him the rest of the way.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_2--><!--qv q:id=7v q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p><em><strong>More MLB: <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/royals\/onsi\/news\/why-royals-made-surprising-8-million-jonathan-india-decision-report-jackson3\"><em><strong>Why Royals Made Surprising $8 Million Jonathan India Decision: Report<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7w q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7x\"><em><strong>More MLB: <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/royals\/onsi\/news\/why-royals-made-surprising-8-million-jonathan-india-decision-report-jackson3\"><em><strong>Why Royals Made Surprising $8 Million Jonathan India Decision: Report<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.si.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One could make an excellent case that Cole Ragans&#8217; season being derailed was the number-one reason the Kansas City Royals missed the playoffs. Yes, the Royals were still top-five in runs allowed across Major League Baseball this year. But Ragans was such a tone-setter at the top of the rotation last year, and after he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2193827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2193826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Royals-GM-Sends-Message-To-Prospective-Cole-Ragans-Trade-Suitors.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2193826"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2193828,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193826\/revisions\/2193828"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2193827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2193826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2193826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2193826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}