The Boston Red Sox are 4-6 in their last 10 games and have fallen a game below .500. They need a first baseman and could swing a shocking trade to land one.
The Red Sox outfield is facing a problem with top prospect Roman Anthony waiting to make his debut. Between Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida, when he returns, there may not be enough at-bats to go around. Rafael Devers clogging the designated hitter spot certainly does not help. The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham suggested the Red Sox could trade away Duran for Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes.
“Houston likely wants more of a platoon player,” wrote Abraham. “But maybe Brown would be willing to make a more significant trade for Wilyer Abreu (a former Astros prospect) or Jarren Duran. Isaac Paredes, a right-handed-hitting infielder with 40 career starts at first base, would be a good fit for the Red Sox.”
Duran was an All-Star last season, but he is still the likeliest trade chip of the Red Sox outfielders. Mainly because, unlike Rafaela and Abreau, he has not signed an extension. The 28-year-old lefty led Major League Baseball in triples last season and is leading the league with six right now. He is slashing .268/.316/.421 with 20 extra-base hits.
Paredes was also an All-Star in 2024 and is hitting .265 with seven home runs. He would be an upgrade over what Triston Casas was giving the team before his injury, and swapping Duran for him would help facilitate Anthony’s debut.
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Duran will be a free agent in 2029 and has a club option for next season. He is projected to earn a six-year, $123 million deal as a free agent. With Abreu and Rafaela already extended, the Red Sox would likely opt to make Anthony their third outfielder for the future, as opposed to Duran.
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