Harsh truth of Red Sox trade plans for Jarren Duran revealed by ESPN insiders

Billy Heyen

Harsh truth of Red Sox trade plans for Jarren Duran revealed by ESPN insiders image

The Boston Red Sox don't appear to be in a rush. 

Whether they trade Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu this offseason out of their outfield surplus appears to still be an open question as the rumor mill spins on.

But eventually, it'll come to a head. That's what ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel wrote in a new article on Tuesday.

"At some point, though, the Red Sox will have to move Duran or Wilyer Abreu," the ESPN duo writes. "Keeping full-time-quality players for less than full-time roles rarely works out well."

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For that reason, Passan and McDaniel give a 50% chance that the Red Sox trade Duran this offseason.

They list the Tigers, Royals, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Reds and Diamondbacks all as possible landing spots.

"Duran has elite bat speed and foot speed, along with a good arm, so his physical tools can lead to a return to something like his star performance from 2024," Passan and McDaniel write. "His foot speed pays off in elite baserunning value, ranking third in baseball over the past three seasons combined at +23 runs. His true talent level seems quite close to his 2025 production, which is still one of the top 35 position players in the sport. Duran has a ton of trade value because he's still in his 20s and has three years of control."

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In 2024, Duran was a superstar. In 2025, he was just very good.

If the Red Sox are seeking a trade return for the 2024 version, it could take longer to get a deal done, too.

They aren't in a rush, but they'll have to make something happen eventually to redistribute their talent in a way that works out a bit better for everyone.

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Contributing Writer