Report: Athletics have shown interest in Royals lefty Kris Bubic, as Kansas City weighs whether to sell

The Oakland Athletics have been showing interest in Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic, according to USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale, while the Royals consider whether their season has reached the point where the best move is to sell at the trade deadline. Nightengale’s preview, as relayed by Royals Review, framed the question as much about Kansas City’s internal decision-making as it was about Bubic as a trade asset.

Through Monday, June 8, the Royals are 27-39, one of the weaker marks in the American League, and they sit 9.5 games back in the AL Central standings. Yet they are still alive in the playoff race, holding a wild-card position 5.5 games behind the top line in ’s wild-card table.

That tense combination makes Bubic stand out among the list of potential sellers. MLB has set the 2026 Trade Deadline for Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. ET, which gives Kansas City less than two months to decide whether it wants to keep building around a late-season push or shift to rebuilding for the next cycle.

Bubic, 28, is a logical centerpiece for a contender looking for rotation depth with team control. lists his 2026 line at 4.11 ERA over 50.1 innings in nine games, and his transaction history shows the Royals placed him on the 15-day injured list on May 18 retroactive to May 15 for left elbow soreness. Nightengale’s report also suggested there is not a clear return timetable tied to his elbow, which matters because buyers often want both medical clarity and readiness for a playoff workload.

The fit, at least on paper, is also clearer for Oakland. The Athletics are 31-34 in the AL West and are positioned as a team that still has enough time to chase a postseason berth, rather than purely sprinting toward next spring. If Kansas City moves Bubic, the trade would land a starter profile that can stabilize a staff for a team trying to bridge the gap between being competitive now and being fully built later.

Nightengale’s preview, again as summarized by Royals Review, pointed to a broader market for Kansas City pitching if the Royals decide to sell. In addition to Bubic, the names floated included Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha among starters, with Cole Ragans and several bullpen pieces also described as potential targets depending on health and market demand. For the Royals, moving one arm can be a statement, but moving multiple pieces would report a more complete pivot, especially with the clock now fixed on Aug. 3.

What to watch next is whether Kansas City’s stance changes in-season, not just whether Bubic is available. The immediate bar is his elbow timeline and how sharp he looks when the Royals begin returning him to a normal workload. After that, the focus shifts to the front office’s trade posture, because the wild-card cushion gives the Royals a reason to hesitate, while their record gives contenders a reason to reach out.