Royals deal Bubic to Dodgers for reliever Duran (source)

KANSAS CITY – The Royals prioritized pitching depth as Monday’s Trade Deadline played out, picking up two controllable relievers in two separate deals.

The first one, which the club has not made official, was acquiring Triple-A right-hander Carlos Duran from the Dodgers for lefty Kris Bubic, sources told MLB.com.

The second came a few hours later when the Royals acquired Triple-A right-hander Nolan Hoffman from the Phillies for right-hander Manuel Colon. Hoffman was designated for assignment by the Phillies earlier on Monday. Colon is a 19-year-old Minor Leaguer who has pitched in the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Columbia this season.

TRADE DETAILS
Royals receive: Minor League RHP Carlos Duran
Dodgers receive: LHP Kris Bubic

TRADE DETAILS
Royals receive: Minor League RHP Nolan Hoffman
Phillies receive: Minor League RHP Manuel Colón

Bubic, 28, is on the 60-day injured list and has been sidelined since May 15, first with a left forearm strain that was originally categorized as left elbow soreness, and then with left shoulder soreness that pushed back his return timeline. He had just begun his throwing progression after the All-Star break, so it was unclear if and when he’d return to the mound this season.

The starter, who has relief experience as well, is making $6.15 million this year and is set to become a free agent at the end of this season. Because of his rental status, the Royals were looking to move him ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline to see if a team might take a flier on Bubic despite the injury, and they found a match in the Dodgers.

Heading to Kansas City in return is Duran. The 6-foot-7 right-handed reliever has spent all of this season in Triple-A, where he has a 3.38 ERA and 61 strikeouts across 42 2/3 innings (37 appearances; two starts). The Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster on July 6 to keep him in the organization because of a clause in his contract, but he remained in Triple-A. Duran signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers this offseason after the A’s released him. He has one Major League appearance, which came in 2025 with the A’s, when he allowed three earned runs in one-third of an inning.

Duran’s results in the Minors have been much better, especially this season. The 25-year-old has a 31.1% strikeout rate with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He mainly utilizes a 95-97 mph four-seam fastball and a swing-and-miss slider. He struggles with command and has a 14.3% walk rate this season, but if he can iron that out some, there’s some potential for him in a big league bullpen. He’s probably ready for an opportunity right now, and that could come with the Royals in the final stretch of the season.

Monday ends Bubic’s time with the organization that drafted the Stanford product No. 40 overall during its college-pitching-heavy 2018 MLB Draft. One of their top prospects, Bubic made his MLB debut in August 2020 and has been part of the pitching staff for the past seven seasons. That time has been riddled with injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2023, a rotator cuff strain in '25 and the arm and shoulder injuries this year.

The back half of Bubic's Royals career was incredibly effective when he was on the mound, including as part of their 2024 bullpen. He helped Kansas City make the postseason that season and posted a 2.67 ERA in 30 1/3 innings. Bubic was an All-Star in 2025, with a 2.48 ERA across 18 starts in the first half. In nine starts this season, Bubic posted a 4.11 ERA.

In the trade with the Phillies, the Royals added the 28-year-old Hoffman, who has allowed two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings (three relief appearances) across three stints with Philadelphia this season. He has spent the majority of the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he had a 4.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. He also could find an opportunity in the Royals' bullpen this season.