The Boston Red Sox outfield is crowded, and the team could look to make a trade regardless of its record. Their All-Star in the group might be the best trade chip.
The Boston Red Sox outfield is crowded, and the team could look to make a trade regardless of its record. Their All-Star in the group might be the best trade chip.
Jarren Duran was an All-Star last season, leading the league in doubles and triples. However, his numbers have declined this year, and he may be the odd man out. Roman Anthony is not going to be traded and Ceddanne Rafaela has already inked an extension with the team. Between Duran and Wilyer Abreu, Duran is older and has less club control, making him the likelier candidate to be traded.
According to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier, the Red Sox are not shopping Duran or Abreu, but Craig Breslow is open to listening to anything that could help his team.
"You can think about this as five guys for four spots, four guys for three spots. But when you do, when you play that out, you can say, 'Hey, each guy can get 75 percent, 80 percent of the at-bats. That's a pretty full season,'" said Breslow, per Speier. "There are a number of ways that this can go (while keeping all of the outfielders on the roster) — but we're also going to explore what opportunities exist out there, and if there's a chance to make this team better in the short term and the long term, then we have to be open to it."
There are plenty of teams that could view Duran as an upgrade, even with his decline. ESPN's Jeff Passan tabbed him as the perfect addition for the San Diego Padres.
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"Left field in San Diego is among the biggest voids in the game," wrote Passan. "The Padres have tried eight players in left this season, and collectively they're barely have an OPS of over .600. A Duran-Jackson Merrill-Fernando Tatis Jr. outfield would be a factory of dynamism that would be under team control through the end of the 2028 season. The Padres might need to get creative -- beyond shortstop Leo De Vries (who's believed to be off-limits) and catcher Ethan Salas, their farm system is middling -- but nobody does creativity like GM A.J. Preller. And whether that means facilitating a deal through a third team or including one of their high-leverage relievers like closer Robert Suárez, San Diego is willing to go places most other organizations would never consider."
Duran is slashing .262/.318/.756. He still has an OPS+of over 100 and leads the league in triples. He would be a massive upgrade in the outfield for the Padres. Duran will not be a free agent until 2029 and is projected to earn a six-year, $123 million deal.
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