The Red Sox plan to be buyers at this year’s trade deadline after their July surge back into contention. But they’re keeping Jarren Duran around for now.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Boston expects to move their center fielder this winter instead of rushing into something at the August deadline.
“The Boston Red Sox, who had resisted trade overtures for outfielder Jarren Duran in the past, now are expected to trade him this winter.”
It’s a shift in approach for the organization.
Two years ago, trading Duran would’ve seemed crazy. The guy put together a 9.0 bWAR season and made his first All-Star team. But he’s regressed since then, and this year’s been rough.
Duran’s hitting .199/.595 OPS through 103 games with just 0.2 bWAR. His 68 OPS+ tells the story – he’s been well below league average at the plate. That’s not what you want from a guy who’s supposed to be a key piece of your lineup.
The timing makes sense from Boston’s perspective. They’re buyers right now, focused on making a playoff push. Moving Duran during that run doesn’t help them win games this season.
Plus, he’s under control through 2028, so there’s no rush. The Red Sox can see how the rest of this year plays out and evaluate their options over the winter when they’ll have more time to find the right deal.
What makes this interesting is Duran’s been in trade rumors before. Teams have called about him, but Boston’s held firm until now. The shift suggests they’re ready to move on from the 29-year-old outfielder and use his value to address other needs.
That value might be lower than it was two years ago, but teams still see the upside. Duran’s got speed, he can play center field, and there’s always the chance he bounces back offensively.
So while Monday’s deadline will come and go without a Duran trade, Red Sox fans should probably start preparing for life without him. The organization seems committed to exploring what’s out there, and winter gives them the best chance to maximize the return.
All things considered, it’s probably the right approach. Keep the band together for this playoff push, then see what kind of upgrade they can make when the market opens up again.
