Could the Boston Red Sox be on the verge of landing a Cy Young contender? It's a question Red Sox fans are buzzing about, and for good reason! Even after acquiring veteran Sonny Gray, whispers are growing louder that Boston might not be done revamping their pitching staff.
The target this time? None other than Cole Ragans, the Kansas City Royals' electrifying left-hander. According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, if the Royals decide to trade Ragans to address their need for outfield help, the Red Sox could be major players. And the potential centerpiece of that deal? Jarren Duran, the Red Sox outfielder who's been the subject of trade rumors all winter. Duran's speed and potential power would undoubtedly be attractive to Kansas City.
"For teams that are in the market for high-end starting pitching and willing to deal big league talent to get it, the Royals represent one of the most interesting potential trade partners of the offseason," Speier wrote. Royals General Manager J.J. Piccolo has openly stated the team's willingness to part with a starting pitcher for the right outfielder. "Our starting pitching, we have some depth there," Piccolo said. "A lot of teams are looking for starting pitching, so if we have what they may be interested in, and they have an outfielder that would be of interest, then there’s potentially the opportunity to make a deal."
But here's where it gets controversial... Is ANYONE on the Royals' pitching staff untouchable? Piccolo's response is telling: "I wouldn’t say off limits," he stated, while also noting their reluctance to deal Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha after they signed with the Royals as free agents. He tempered this by adding, "There would have to be a really big return for one (starter) in particular." And everyone knows who that "one" is: Cole Ragans.
While the Royals reportedly prefer a right-handed hitting outfielder, they aren't strictly limiting themselves to that. This makes the Red Sox's interest in Duran even more intriguing, as they've been linked to him since the trade deadline.
Now, let's talk about Ragans himself. While some might argue whether Sonny Gray, at 36, can truly be the Red Sox's number two starter behind Garrett Crochet, there's no denying Ragans' ace potential. The soon-to-be 28-year-old had a breakout 2024 season, finishing fourth in the American League Cy Young voting with a stellar 3.14 ERA and a league-leading 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings! And he's locked up through 2028 with a very team-friendly $13.25 million contract extension. This is the part most people miss... the long-term control makes him incredibly valuable.
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are legitimate injury concerns. Ragans missed time last season due to groin and rotator cuff issues, limiting him to just 13 starts and 61.1 innings. While his ERA during that period was a less-than-ideal 4.67, his underlying metrics – a 2.50 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and a staggering 14.3 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) – suggest he was still pitching at an elite level. This indicates that his ERA might have been a bit unlucky due to factors outside his control, like poor defense or untimely hits.
And this is a big one: Ragans has undergone two Tommy John surgeries, the first in 2018 and the second in 2019. His All-Star 2024 season was his only full season in his four-year MLB career. This history could give some teams pause.
What kind of package would it take to land Ragans? It would almost certainly require more than just Duran. Think back to the Garrett Crochet trade; it'll likely take multiple top prospects to get the Royals to bite. Names like slugging outfielder Jhostynxon "The Password" Garcia, left-hander Connelly Early, and fellow southpaw Payton Tolle could be enticing pieces for Kansas City.
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has shown he's willing to trade promising prospects for established talent, as evidenced by the Crochet and Gray acquisitions. If Ragans is truly available, Breslow shouldn't hesitate to make another bold move to turn Boston's rotation into one of the best in baseball.
Imagine a Red Sox rotation with Ragans in the mix:
- Garrett Crochet, LHP
- Cole Ragans, LHP
- Sonny Gray, RHP
- Brayan Bello, RHP
- Kutter Crawford, RHP
With possible contributions from Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, Payton Tolle, and Hunter Dobbins.
That's a potentially dominant rotation, especially if Bello continues to develop. While the No. 5 spot might be a question mark, the top four could rival any starting staff in MLB.
Given the underwhelming free-agent market for starting pitching, especially after Dylan Cease's mega-deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Ragans should be a top priority for Breslow and the Red Sox. Adding Ragans and a power bat or two could catapult Boston back into contention in 2026.
So, what do you think? Should the Red Sox go all-in for Cole Ragans, even with his injury history? Is Jarren Duran the right player to build a trade package around? And is it worth sacrificing future potential for immediate contention? Let us know in the comments!
