The Red Sox are heating up at just the right time, fresh off a sweep of the Nationals and slowly climbing back into postseason contention. But as the trade deadline looms, tough calls are inevitable. And at the center of the swirling speculation? Outfielder Jarren Duran. Once hailed as a breakout star, Duran now finds himself facing uncertainty. “I’ll probably break down crying…” he admitted when asked about the possibility of leaving Boston. As his performance dips and roster pressure builds, one thing is clear — his spot on this team is no longer a guarantee.
After making headlines with the Rafael Devers trade, the Red Sox are expected to stay aggressive as the trade deadline approaches. One of the focus areas for the team is their outfield. A crowded group of young players has created a logjam, making it hard for the team to find consistency. Boston’s experiments in the outfield could really use a complete reconfiguration, and as that happens, someone will inevitably sit out. Duran’s stellar form last season even earned him the All-Star MVP, but this season, he is far from that player. So, Duran’s name is likely to come up as a possible cut.
“I think they’re going to continue to do things that solve their long-term issues,” an American League executive told Jayson Stark of The Athletic. “So I think (Jarren) Duran is probably in play for a lot of teams… I think he’s the most likely of those players in their outfield to change teams,” the anonymous exec added. Well, they’re not wrong; it’s hard to ignore that possibility. The Red Sox’s outfield has players like Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, and Wilyer Abreu, along with Duran. And moving Duran is an excellent option that could open up more space for Anthony.
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Boston Red Sox Vs New York Mets Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran 16 stands in the hole during the eighth inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Corona, N.Y., on September 4, 2024. New York City N.Y. United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xGordonxDonovanx originalFilename:donovan-bostonre240904_npMbw.jpg
Executives have repeatedly pointed to the 28-year-old as a potential fix for Boston’s crowded outfield. Earlier, MLB executive Jim Bowden also revealed growing interest from teams in the All-Star. In his mind, the pieces started to fall into place: perhaps the Red Sox had already mapped out their outfield of the future, with Abreu patrolling right field and Anthony taking over in left. Duran is currently hitting just .255 with an OPS of .728, 6 home runs, and 44 RBIs, but his 10 triples are the most in the majors. As the trade deadline inches closer, it’s clear the Red Sox will have to move someone out soon.
Considering his dip in form from last year’s stellar stat sheet, it might just be Duran. If Boston decides to go that route, as many experts suggest, the Padres may be the first team to jump in with an offer for the left fielder.
Padres to pursue Jarren Duran
The San Diego Padres are currently battling for a Wild Card spot. With a 48–41 record, they sit second in the NL West. But they still have plenty to figure out if they want to lock in a postseason berth this season. One area they could really use help in is left field, as Jason Heyward didn’t live up to expectations. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Padres are in search of a right-handed hitting left fielder, and their search may very well lead them to the Red Sox and Duran.
“The Padres are spreading the word to every seller that they are searching for a right-handed hitting outfielder and a catcher, and aren’t afraid to deal their prospects,” Nightengale wrote. “They still believe they have the team to end their World Series drought, particularly with Yu Darvish’s imminent return and potentially Michael King’s shortly after the All-Star break. Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran still makes the most sense for the Padres,” he added.
He’s not wrong. The Padres made an impressive push for what could have been their first World Series title in franchise history last season. And this time, the goal hasn’t changed a bit. It’ll become much more achievable with Yu Darvish and starting pitcher Michael King returning after the All-Star break, and with Duran’s addition in left field, their chances rise even higher. He could easily be the full-time replacement for Heyward in that role.
It’s yet to be seen whether San Diego will become Duran’s new home, but one thing is clear: Duran is most likely to become the odd man out in the Red Sox’s young outfield mix.
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