Red Sox Trade Idea Sends Jarren Duran to Guardians for Shane Bieber, Emmanuel Clase

Red Sox Trade Idea Sends Jarren Duran to Guardians for Shane Bieber, Emmanuel Clase originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

If made available, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran would instantly become one of the most sought-after commodities on the trade market.

Though he has experienced a slight downtick in production compared to previous seasons, Duran was named the Most Valuable Player at last year's All-Star Game and landed a place on the 2024 All-MLB Second Team. Beyond his physical gifts and accolades and physical gifts, though, is what other teams consider to be Duran's most attractive characteristic: the fact he is controllable through the end of the 2028 campaign.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that the Red Sox are unlikely to move Duran at the deadline and instead will listen to offers this upcoming winter. But The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey included Duran in a trade proposal that would send him to the Cleveland Guardians.

The Red Sox's return package in this scenario includes two superstars: starting pitcher Shane Bieber and closer Emmanuel Clase, each of whom would address one of the team's needs.

Bieber would be a welcome addition to a starting rotation that, outside of Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito, is not as strong as it could be. Walker Buehler has struggled for much of the year, and the club has three more starters (Hunter Dobbins, Tanner Houck and Patrick Sandoval) on the shelf with long-term injuries. In the meantime, rookie hurler Richard Fitts has been occupying the fifth spot.

"Even coming off an injury, Bieber would strengthen that group," McCaffrey wrote. "Bieber would likely only be a rental, though. He is under a two-year, $26 million contract that runs through the end of the season and includes a player option that he could decline."

Clase, meanwhile, may not be the Red Sox's closer right away, but he would be a fitting candidate for Aroldis Chapman to pass the baton to if the latter decides to leave the team in free agency.

"Clase is under control through 2026 but has team options for 2027 and 2028. Boston’s closer, Aroldis Chapman, has been elite this season, but he will be a free agent this winter, and Clase could take over the role next year," McCaffrey wrote. "In the meantime, fortifying the back of the bullpen with Clase in front of Chapman would be a boon for Boston in its playoff push."

The likelihood of any deal involving Duran going through at the deadline is not very likely, but both the Red Sox and Guardians could stand to benefit from a trade like this one.

Related: Boston Unlikely to Move Jarren Duran Despite Heavy Interest from Padres

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.