The Boston Red Sox are already receiving trade interest in a key piece of their roster. Outfielder Jarren Duran has drawn interest from the San Diego Padres.
Boston may not want to deal their young star, but they do have Roman Anthony, their top prospect waiting in the wings. They also need a little bit of right-handed thump to balance out their lineup.
Trading Duran would be a good way for them to address certain needs on their roster this summer.
Zachary D. Rymer proposed the idea of Duran going to the New York Mets for Mark Vientos and prospects Brandon Sproat and Jesus Baez.
"The Mets could use Duran's athleticism in their offense. They only have 46 stolen bases as a team and generally play it station-to-station on the basepaths," Rymer wrote.
"Whereas he's on the outs amid Brett Baty's recent rise in New York, Vientos could slide right into a role as an everyday player on the corners in Boston. Sproat is having a rough season, but he has big-time stuff and is close to the majors."
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The Red Sox could use some right-handed power, and Vientos can provide that while even sliding into an everyday role.
With Triston Casas out for the season, Vientos could play first base for Boston down the stretch, and that would allow them to address that need.
The Red Sox would be getting a solid return for Duran if they do deal him. They are currently 29-34 and sit 10 games back in the American League East.
They had a strong offseason and looked to be a clear contender, but they might be trending towards selling instead.
It will certainly be interesting to see how the Red Sox respond to their recent struggles. If they continue to falter, Duran could be on the way out.
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