The Boston Red Sox are still in the postseason hunt, but trending in the wrong direction. They could look to move some assets at the trade deadline.
If the Red Sox do become sellers, many teams may be interested in Jarren Duran and Aroldis Chapman. The team has lost five straight and has not looked good since trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. They are still within striking distance of a postseason berth, however. As a team on the fence, the Red Sox will have to be smart at the deadline.
Whether or not the team is in contention, an argument can be made for trading Jarren Duran. The team has Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu already. Anthony is the top prospect in baseball, Rafaela has already signed an extension and Abreu is younger, a gold glover and has more club control than Duran. Duran was an All-Star last year, and his numbers have declined. Trading him now could end the outfield logjam and maximize his value. However, Sports Illustrated’s Nick Selbe and Will Laws predicted Duran would not be traded.
“The Red Sox would have to be blown away by an offer to consider trading another building block so soon after the Rafael Devers deal, especially if they continue to linger on the edge of the playoff race, though they do possess a surplus of outfielders and Duran has been the name most frequently popping up in rumors,” Sports Illustrated said of Duran.
Duran is under club control through 2028. His numbers are down, but he is still slashing .254/.307/.404. He would be an upgrade for contenders like the Philadelphia Phillies or San Diego Padres. He leads the American League in triples as well.
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If the Red Sox envision a future outfield of Rafaela, Anthony and Abreu, they should trade Duran before his value goes down. He is not going to get younger, and there is no guarantee the Red Sox make the postseason by holding on to him.
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