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The Kansas City Royals have been mentioned as a potential suitor for Boston Red Sox star outfielder Jarren Duran this offseason. A recent report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic not only confirmed that Kansas City still has interest in Duran, but also linked the Royals to St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan (Rosenthal’s report was shared on social media by Matthew Crory).
“Shedding payroll still might be necessary for the Royals to acquire one more hitter, ideally the Red Sox’s Jarren Duran or St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan,” Rosenthal’s report states.
While the Royals are seemingly interested in adding a star offensive player, Rosenthal believes that “shedding payroll” may need to occur first. As a result, it would not be surprising to see Kansas City trade a big league player or two away in the coming weeks to make room for a Duran or Donovan pursuit.
Both Duran and Donovan would make sense for the Royals. Kansas City wants to build a contender around Bobby Witt Jr. and bringing in either All-Star would only help matters.
Duran is under team control through 2028. Donovan is under team control through the 2027 season. Acquiring either player would not result in a one-year rental, which will catch the Royals’ attention.
Donovan is 28 and Duran is 29, so decline won’t be a concern for either player either. As long as they stay healthy, there is reason to believe that both players can continue to produce at an All-Star level.
Donovan earned his first All-Star selection during the 2025 campaign. He ultimately slashed .287/.353/.422 across 118 games played. Donovan also offers versatility, as he can play second base and third base in addition to the outfield.
Duran is strictly an outfielder, but he also may offer the higher ceiling. He made his first All-Star team in 2024 and ended up hitting .285 with an .834 OPS. While he took a step back in 2025, Duran still recorded a .774 OPS and led the league in triples (13) for a second consecutive season. He added 41 doubles, 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases.
For now, the Royals will likely focus on creating extra financial space on the roster. If they accomplish that goal, the chances of Kansas City attempting to trade for Jarren Duran or Brendan Donovan will likely increase.