Who is he, and where does he come from?
He’s Kris Bubic, a left-handed pitcher who heads into free agency at 29-years-old, after seven major league seasons with the Kansas City Royals, the last of which saw him sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. The Royals drafted him in the first round (pick 40) of the 2018 draft, out of Stanford University. His name is pronounced “BOO-bich,” which, good luck with that.
Is he any good?
When he’s been on the mound in recent years, Bubic has been really good. The problem is that he’s usually not available
to be on the mound. Since the start of the 2023 season, Bubic has thrown a total of 217 ⅔ innings (54 per year). In those four seasons, he’s been a combined 13-12, with a 2.98 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 1.17 WHIP, 17.4% K-BB, and allows just 0.5 HR/9 (after allowing 1.4 HR/9 in his first three seasons in the league).
It was 2023 when Bubic added a slider to his previous three-pitch mix (4-seam, curveball, change). He opened the season in the rotation and was fantastic in his first two starts (11 IP, 2 R, 13 K) before injuring himself in his third start, leading right into Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for half of 2024 as well. When he returned out of the bullpen (more on this later), he was outstanding over 27 appearances – with a 2.67 ERA (1.87 xERA, 1.95 FIP) and 11.6 strikeouts per 9 innings, easily the best of his career.
In 2025, Bubic added a fifth pitch, a sinker, and he was moved back into the rotation. He was dominant for 20 starts, going 8-7, with a 2.55 ERA, and earning his lone All-Star selection. However, before the end of July, Bubic strained his left rotator cuff and missed most of the season.
2026 was more of the same. Bubic came out of the gate firing, sporting a 3.32 ERA through seven starts before multiple poor outings and an elbow injury that kept him on the IL until September. In the meantime, he had been traded to the Dodgers as a depth pitching piece. Bubic returned to throw 4 ⅔ shutout innings out of the ‘pen and then made two short relief appearances in the postseason (1 ⅓ IP, 2 R).
Bubic’s fastball averages 92 MPH, and his secondaries (in order of usage in 2026) are: changeup, sweeper, sinker, slider. The changeup, used exclusively against right-handed hitters, was a phenomenal .119 batting average against this year and has stayed under .200 for three years running now.
TL;DR, just give me his 2026 stats
14 Games (9 starts), 55 IP, 4-2 record, 3.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .202 BA against, 26 BB, 56 K (13.3% K-BB).
Why would he be a good fit for the Red Sox?
Because he’s a talented left-handed arm who could improve an already solid Red Sox bullpen. While the rotation is flush with lefties, the ‘pen may just have Aroldis Chapman and Erik Miller as left-handers. And as the closer, Chapman doesn’t really count since he pitches regardless of opponent handedness.
Bubic could be a great setup or long-man. I mentioned that 2024 season, when he came back from TJ as a reliever, his stats were fantastic while having a career-high K-rate. Here are Bubic’s career numbers as a reliever:
It might not be fair to compare Bubic’s career as a starter vs. reliever, as he struggled greatly in his first three years. However, the reliever numbers speak for themselves. Bubic has averaged 54 innings over the past four seasons, so what if you just pencil him in for 54 innings?
Why wouldn’t he be a good fit for the Red Sox?
Probably the same reason that he wouldn’t be a good fit for all teams: a lack of durability. Tommy John surgery, rotator cuff pain, more elbow pain. Signing Bubic to a two-year deal, without incentives, to be in your starting rotation feels ill-advised with this injury track record.
What would it take to get him?
MLB Trade Rumors: One year, $12.5M (#48 ranked free agent)
ESPN: Two years, $18M (#31 ranked free agent)
Show me a cool highlight.
Here is Kris Bubic striking out eleven White Sox in April of this year, while sporting some piss poor Royals City Connect uniforms.
Smash or pass?
Smash. I believe the Red Sox need a #3 type of starting pitcher to replace Sonny Gray, as well as a strong reliever. If Bubic is their top pitching acquisition, then they’ve failed, but he would be a great complementary piece. A one-year deal with a vesting option for a second year based on innings count, similar to what they did with Aroldis Chapman, makes a lot of sense to me.
