Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked how the Royals should handle Kris Bubic as the trade deadline approaches in a few weeks.
This was a far more controversial question than some had initially imagined it might be. Despite the fact that the Royals are about as far as they can get from the playoff hunt in an admittedly weak American League, Royals fans couldn’t find a majority opinion on trading the lefty. A plurality of 46% believe that the team should trade him only if there’s a good deal to be had. I’d be interested to hear some of you sound off in the comments about what a good deal for Bubic would look like to you.
The next-highest vote-getter was that he should be traded no matter what at 35%; given his contract ends at the conclusion of the 2026 season, and the team seems unlikely to compete, that’s probably what makes the most sense. Though the team should obviously seek out the best deal.
I was heartened to see that nearly one in ten Royals fans would like to see Bubic return for next season. He’s been my favorite pitcher on the team since 2020, and I’ll be sad to see him go if, indeed, he does leave. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Dodgers pick him up and turn him into their rotating stable of injured stud pitchers should KC allow him to depart in free agency, Though, I suppose, at least I’d be happy for him to go somewhere where he might get to experience some playoff success again.
Did these results surprise you? What kind of trade would you like to see the team make? Should Bubic be the only pitcher traded, as Ken Rosenthal reported that KC would prefer? Let us know in the comments below!
These survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.
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