According to Jeff Passan of ESPN the Boston Red Sox believe that outfielder Jarren Duran “is worth a front of the rotation starter”, stated Passan on Instagram Threads yesterday. Passan further adds how obviously “nobody” has been willing to meet such demands for Boston in trade talks, and highlights how the package in which the Orioles gave up to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Shane Baz essentially precludes into the high cost of starting pitcher via trade in this year’s offseason market.
Red Sox Shopping Jarren Duran
It’s no secret that the Red Sox have discussed trades involving left fielder Jarren Duran. This goes back to July of the prior season (near the trade deadline), in which Boston was reported to actively be shopping Duran, along with another one of their outfielders in Wilyer Abreu. As for the reasoning, one can look at Boston’s current depth chart and ascension of top prospect Roman Anthony, and other outfielders on their roster such as Masataka Yoshida, Cedanna Rafeaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Nate Eaton.
This makes the Red Sox outfield rather crowded at the moment, and with Boston signing Anthony to an eight year 130 million dollar contract extension this past August, shows they believe highly in him and their future outfield plans.
Duran on the other hand, is 29 years old and broke out in 2024 when he posted a .285/.342.492 slash line with an .834 OPS and a career high 21 home runs in 160 games as Boston’s everyday left fielder. 2025 Duran regressed a bit towards the mean as it relates to duplicating his breakout season, but still had a decent year in which he posted a .256/.332/.442 slash line with a .774 OPS and 16 home runs in 157 games.
Durran struggled defensively in the outfield in 2025 posting a -4 OAA (outs above average) but does have great arm strength for a corner outfielder who can also play center, posting an positive 4 arm value and 87.4 arm strength, placing him in the 93rd and 71st percentile amongst MLB outfielders this past season, according to Baseball Savant.
Durran has generated trade interest from teams needing outfield help such as the Kansas City Royals, in which we’ve heard mock trade proposals such as a Cole Ragans and Jarren Duran’s swap, but as Passan reported and what we’ve seen so far this offseason no team has been willing to meet Boston’s steep price demand for the outfielder.
Red Sox Outfield Is Crowded
Boston isn’t in any particular rush to trade him. Duran is 29 years old and won’t become a free agent until 2029. The Red Sox see the value he possesses in terms of his age, control, and overall ability. It’s just a matter of whether other teams see it. With a weak free agency class as a whole, the price for trade acquisitions on this year’s market for both hitters and pitchers is relatively steep. Free agency has also been rather stagnant in terms of big pieces coming off the board as we approach January 1st and the New Year.
But looking at this from Boston’s perspective, it’s simply the openness of believing in Anthony and having the ability to move one of their outfielders, who they view as an asset, to address an internal need, which is starting pitching. Outside of the acquisition of Sonny Gray, the Red Sox are in desperate need of starting pitching this offseason if they want to be a legitimate AL East contender in a vastly growing competitive division heading into the 2026 season.
Passan: Red Sox Believe OF Jarren Duran Is Worth Top Of The Rotation Starting Pitcher