MLB Insider: Latest Trade Rumors Link Red Sox, Royals

Four days after the July 31 MLB trade deadline passes, the Boston Red Sox will open a three-game series with the Kansas City at Fenway Park. At this point, it’s hard to tell which which dugout will be home for Seth Lugo.

The Royals right-hander is gaining momentum as a compelling trade target ahead of the deadline. “The Kansas City Royals, 4 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race, are making it clear to clubs that if they trade right-hander Seth Lugo, they will want controllable outfield help in return,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal wrote Wednesday.

“The Royals aren’t at that point yet,” Rosenthal continued. “Lugo, 35, is likely to turn down his $15 million player option for 2026 and become a free agent.

“The Royals not only would consider giving him a qualifying offer, but also believe they would be competitive in trying to re-sign him. So, they are in no rush to disrupt the relationship,” Rosenthal added.

The Red Sox certainly have controllable outfielders they can trade. But with free agency looming for Lugo, how much would chief baseball officer Craig Breslow be willing to offer the Royals for a potential short-term rental?

It’s possible Kansas City could get a deal done with Boston, Rosenthal noted, if the Royals “sweeten the deal with prospects, and teams are targeting their young catching, in particular.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Rosenthal mentioned that Red Sox manager Alex Cora has a relationship with Lugo dating back to the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Cora was the general manager who assembled Team Puerto Rico’s roster, which included Lugo.

Lugo is 6-5 with a 2.94 ERA this season in 18 starts. The right-hander earned his first All-Star bid and Gold Glove Award last season when he won a career-high 16 games.

The Red Sox are in the market for starting pitching after losing Hunter Dobbins to a season-ending torn ACL and placing Tanner Houck back on the injured list this week.