According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, talks have allegedly taken place between the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox regarding potential trades involving outfielder Jarren Duran from the Red Sox.
Heyman noted that the Red Sox are continuing to consider offers for their standout closer Kenley Jansen, among others. With a wealth of outfield prospects, teams are inquiring about Jarren Duran. The Padres, who are in search of a left-handed hitting outfielder, have shown interest in Duran.
The 27-year-old experienced a breakthrough campaign in 2023 but suffered a toe injury in August. Displaying remarkable speed, he recorded a batting line of .295/.346/.482 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. Additionally, he successfully stole bases in 24 out of 26 attempts.
The Padres’ decision aligns well, considering he becomes eligible for arbitration in 2025 and won’t reach free agency until after the 2028 season.
Following the trades of star outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the Yankees, the Padres find themselves with a shortage of outfield options. Currently, they only have Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jose Azocar listed as outfielders on their 40-man roster. Acquiring Duran would address this lack of outfield depth for the team.
As they head into the 2024 season, the Red Sox boast an outfield lineup consisting of Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Tyler O’Neill, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, and Masataka Yoshida.
Additionally, their second-ranked prospect, outfielder Roman Anthony, is expected to make his Major League debut in 2025. While there haven’t been any signs of an imminent deal as of Friday morning, this situation is worth monitoring, especially with spring training approaching.
