Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Rumors: Boston 'Interested' In Royals' First-Time All-Star

The cost would be VERY steep here...
Jackson Roberts|
Jul 7, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; A genera view of a Kansas City Royals cap on the field, prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken/Imagn Images
Jul 7, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; A genera view of a Kansas City Royals cap on the field, prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken/Imagn Images | Peter G. Aiken

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The Boston Red Sox's search for starting pitching at the trade deadline will dictate a lot about the rest of their season.

Though they got a good start out of Walker Buehler on Monday night, the Red Sox still have to be uncertain about the last two spots in their rotation the rest of the way. And if they could land a real number-two starter, something that's extremely hard to do at this time of year, they'd suddenly be much more formidable contenders.

Boston has been tied to Minnesota Twins star Joe Ryan, but it's a long shot that the All-Star right-hander gets moved. But perhaps there's another potential number-two arm in the American League Central that's a little more attainable.

On Monday, Steve Perrault of Underdog Fantasy projected the Red Sox as the "best fit" for Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic, and while he acknowledged that acquiring Bubic is still a long shot, he said he was "hearing murmurs" that Boston was sniffing around.

"Apparently, he is the second-highest starting pitcher target for the Red Sox behind Joe Ryan," Perrault said. "Now, the cost is gonna be steep. I think it's gonna cost a lot for the Red Sox to get a guy in Bubic who would immediately slot right behind Garrett Crochet in the postseason rotation.

"Whoever would acquire him, and I still think this is unlikely, would only owe him a million dollars the rest of the season... Again, low-percentage chance, but I'm hearing murmurs that the Red Sox are interested. Are they willing to pay what it's going to cost to get him here? Who the hell knows?"

Bubic, 27, is 8-6 with a 2.38 ERA and 115 strikeouts this season through 19 starts. It's a true breakout year for the former first-round pick, who pitched out of the bullpen last year after returning from Tommy John surgery and wasn't a lock to make the rotation entering spring training.

With a year and a half of team control, Bubic is far from a lock to get dealt. ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel gave him a projected 15 percent chance to get traded, which isn't nothing, but is also tough to dream on as a Red Sox fan.

More MLB: Royals Rumors: How Kansas City Is Leaning At Trade Deadline, Per Insider

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Jackson Roberts
JACKSON ROBERTS

Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living. A Bay Area native and a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, Jackson makes his home in North Jersey. He grew up rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Warriors, and he recently added the Devils to his sports fandom mosaic. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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