“Duran ranked fourth in the AL in WAR last season—directly above Juan Soto and José Ramirez—while leading the majors in doubles and triples,” wrote Sports Illustrated. Now, that should indicate what’s coming from the Red Sox regarding Jarren Duran. But baseball isn’t always that simple. With a logjam of starting-caliber outfielders and glaring needs in the starting rotation, Boston faces a tough dilemma. Do they hold onto all their outfield talent, or use him as a trade chip to address more urgent needs?
Duran’s name has been popping up in trade talks all season. Even though he’s taken a bit of a step back from last year, he’d still be a solid upgrade for plenty of teams that need help in the outfield (WAR 1.7). Moreover, he was an All-Star just last year and still has several years of team control. So, if the Red Sox deal from their outfield depth, who’s the odd man out? Jarren Duran? Someone else? We may finally have our answer.
“The Red Sox are believed unlikely to trade Jarren Duran before the deadline despite the Padres’ interest,” MLB insider Gordo quoted Jon Heyman.
The Red Sox are believed unlikely to trade Jarren Duran before the deadline despite the Padres interest, according to @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/tUwyOGllBI
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) July 24, 2025
Duran is hitting .254, a step back from the .285 average he posted in 2023. His OPS has also dipped from .834 to .748. Still, Duran’s hustle and energy have been a big part of what he brings to the Red Sox. Plus, with three years of team control left before he hits free agency, he’s a valuable asset.
While the Padres are reportedly interested in him, the Red Sox may be hesitant to pull the trigger on a deal. Part of the concern is chemistry. Because moving Duran midseason could disrupt the vibe in the clubhouse. And if a trade were to happen, it might make more sense in the offseason, when the roster can be reshaped and team dynamics have a chance to reset.
But, for the Padres, there are reasons to get interested in Duran. They’re in serious need of a third outfielder, and Duran would slot in nicely in left field next to Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. But the challenge for San Diego is that they probably won’t be dealing any controllable starting pitching at the deadline. So, if they want to land Duran, they might have to put together a package that includes Robert Suarez and some prospects to get the Red Sox’s attention.
A mutual interest might work for the Red Sox
The Padres need a reliable slugger, while the Red Sox are looking for an arm. Here, the Padres got Dylan Cease and the Red Sox got Jarren Duran. Doesn’t it look like a mutual interest for both?
Well, currently, Cease’s ERA sits at 4.59 over 113.2 innings, but the talent is still very much there. He’s striking out batters quite impressively (11.4 K/9) and ranks in the 94th percentile in Whiff Rate, according to Baseball Savant. Moreover, one of his biggest strengths is durability.
Cease has made at least 32 starts every year since 2021. And he hasn’t thrown fewer than 165 innings in any of those seasons. Now, that kind of consistency is exactly what the Red Sox could use right now. Especially with Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck on the IL and Walker Buehler still trying to get back on track behind Garrett Crochet and Lucas Giolito.
But what the Red Sox need to offer the Padres for the same? It is unlikely that Duran will be pitched against Cease. But reportedly, Wilyer Abreu is a potential trade option. As pointed out by The Athletic, “Abreu, like Duran, could become expendable in Boston thanks to the wave of young bats. But he’s also young enough (26) and under team control for long enough (2029) to be part of the Red Sox’s long-term plan, putting them in the driver’s seat for any potential negotiations.”
Considering Abreu’s performance, if the Red Sox find a better offer than Duran, they might trade him. But it is still unclear if they would trade Abreu for Cease.
There are reports that the Padres already reached out to the Marlins about Sandy Alcantara, who’s under contract through 2027. And that signals a clear plan. Trade Cease for valuable pieces, then flip some of those to land a long-term rotation anchor. By moving Cease now, the Padres can have a chance to bring in multiple controllable players or high-upside prospects, especially if a contender gets aggressive and overpays for a frontline starter.
For the Red Sox, offering a few prospects might work, as well, and that will only comprise outfielders. So, let’s see what comes out finally from this curious case of trade dilemma.
The post Jarren Duran’s Red Sox Fate Revealed as Trade Deadline Rumors Swirl appeared first on EssentiallySports.