As the trade deadline draws closer, the Boston Red Sox have a clear need to upgrade their starting rotation.
Boston currently holds a one-and-a-half game lead for the final Wild Card playoff spot, with a record of 55-49. The Red Sox already made arguably the biggest trade of the season when they sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Since then, the team has continued to excel.
The Red Sox have an abundance of talented outfielders who have drawn the eye of other teams, including Jarren Duran, who MassLive's Sean McAdam reported Friday was a part of a blockbuster trade offer the Red Sox rejected from the San Diego Padres that would have sent starting pitcher Dylan Cease in a package for the All-Star outfielder.
"There’s little question that pitching remains the Red Sox’ primary target as the deadline inches closer," McAdam wrote.
"The Red Sox have signaled interest in Dylan Cease, who would be a rental. The Padres, in their never-ending quest to acquire Duran, proposed a package involving Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another prospect (not shortstop Leo de Vries) for Duran, which was quickly rejected."
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Cease is a talented pitcher, despite his struggles this season, and has nearly won a Cy Young Award on two separate occasions. Though talented, trading Duran, who is under team control for another three years, for the 29-year-old pitcher on an expiring contract is not in the Red Sox's best interest.
Duran is only one year removed from being an All-Star and is still having a solid season this year, slashing .254/.321/.748 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs. The Red Sox have plenty of talented outfielders, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they need to get rid of any of them.
More MLB: Red Sox-Royals trade idea ends Jarren Duran's time in Boston