Dodgers Pitcher Admits He Was 'Surprised' to Be Traded at Deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered the pitching staff at the trade deadline, with the headline move being the team landing Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.

But the organization also traded for left-hander Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals, giving the staff more depth. Bubic, a 2025 All-Star, has been on the 60-day injured list after suffering a setback on a rehab assignment in late June.

The left-hander has been dealing with a flexor strain in his forearm and a shoulder impingement. So when he was told he had been traded, the veteran was a little surprised.

“I kind of know where I’m at in my career, the rental status and all that,” Bubic said to reporters. “But obviously I hadn’t pitched in a couple months, a little over two months when the deadline came."

Bubic made nine starts this year for the Royals, with the left-hander sporting a 4.11 ERA. The Dodgers believe he can help them come playoff time, with the veteran putting up an ERA under 3.00 in each of the last two seasons.

Due to the depth that Los Angeles has, it allows Bubic a chance to fully heal. The left-hander is eyeing a rehab assignment around late August or early September, which could give him a few weeks to ramp up before the playoffs begin.

“I knew it was going to have to be a team willing to take a little bit of a flyer given that I haven’t been on a big-league mound in a little bit," Bubic said.

The left-hander will enter free agency after the conclusion of the 2026 season. But for now, he is hoping to get back in the coming weeks to help the Dodgers go after another World Series title.

What is Kris Bubic’s Injury?

Bubic received a cortisone injection on July 1 before being shut down for a few more weeks. The left-hander has now started his throwing program, giving more thought to his eventual return.

“I had a low-grade flexor strain back in May, after my start May 14 in Chicago,” Bubic said. “Given I had TJ [Tommy John surgery] a couple years back, we wanted to be cautious there so we figured I should take a couple weeks, let things get back to 100%. Went on a rehab assignment three weeks later and my shoulder backed up on me. I had a rotator cuff injury last year as well.

"So I had a little history in both areas. It wasn’t crazy significant but more impingement-type symptoms. I tried to manage through. Kept kind of yo-yoing back and forth between being manageable and not being manageable. It got to the point where it was a little bit of a struggle to play catch.”

It remains to be seen when Bubic will get back on the mound for his Dodgers debut, but having him as an option could be beneficial. Bubic owns a 1.93 ERA and three strikeouts over four postseason appearances in his career, all as a reliever.

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