The Boston Red Sox have put themselves in a position to add at the trade deadline. They are five games over .500 entering play on Friday and have a claim on one of the American League Wild Card spots.
Even though the Red Sox may be looking to buy, they could cut ties with an All-Star in a trade. Jarren Duran was an All-Star last season, but he may be the odd man out in the Red Sox’s logjam.
Roman Anthony is not getting traded and Ceddanne Rafaela has already signed an extension. Wilyer Abreu is younger and has more club control than Duran as well. Duran’s name has been popular in trade rumors, and the San Diego Padres may be targeting him, according to MassLive’s Sean McAdam.
“The San Diego Padres, according to an industry source, have been relentless in their pursuit of Duran and have repeatedly approached the Red Sox,” wrote McAdam. “Problem is, they don’t match up particularly well with the Sox. They have some intriguing starters in Dylan Cease and Michael King, but both are in the final year of their deals and the Red Sox, unsurprisingly, are not about to move three-plus years of control of Duran for just two months’ control of two pitchers, especially with King currently sidelined.”
If the Red Sox do trade Duran, they’re going to want controllable pieces that can help them now and in the future. Duran has seen his numbers decline from his All-Star campaign last year, but he is still playing well and would be an upgrade for the Padres. He is slashing .260/.318/.434 with a league-best 10 triples and eight home runs.
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“The one hope is this: GM A.J. Preller is among the game’s most creative executives,” wrote McAdam. “If Preller could package his team’s top two prospects — catcher Ethan Salas and shortstop Leo de Vries — and acquire a starter with term whom he could then flip for Duran, maybe there’s a deal still to be made between the clubs. Otherwise, it’s difficult to envision them as trading partners.”
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