The Boston Red Sox have a good core of players to build around, but they will have to pay a premium to keep them all. One of their All-Stars is nearing free agency and could be in line for a big payday.
Jarren Duran is already 28 years old, but he broke out last season. He was an All-Star, the All-Star Game MVP and led the league in doubles and triples. He is slashing .271/.321/.419 this season. He will be a free agent in 2029 and ESPN’s Jeff Passan predicts he will earn a $100 million deal soon.
“He was originally on the $200 million list, but his age is a complicating factor,” wrote Passan. “When Duran reaches free agency after the 2028 season, he will already be 32. And as dynamic a player as he is, outfielders who rely on their legs tend not to age well. That said, a $100 million-plus deal would be one hell of a consolation prize.”
Duran is a big part of the Red Sox team right now, but if they let him hit free agency, he could have a strong market. In his first two seasons in the big leagues, he played 91 games and had a .622 OPS and just five home runs.
Since then, he has an .820 OPS, 31 home runs, 91 doubles, 20 triples, 13 RBIs and 69 stolen bases. His age could be a limiting factor in how much money he makes, but if he continues to produce, there is no reason he won’t be a $100 million player.
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Duran was the team’s No.4 prospect in 2021. He is finally turning into the player the team thought he could be. The next couple years will be very important for him as he approaches free agency. He has a $8 million club option for 2026, which is shaping up to be a bargain for the Red Sox.
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