Padres Reportedly Interested In Red Sox's Jarren Duran Amid Trade Rumors
Will the Boston Red Sox trade one of their most promising young, controllable players before spring training?
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran had a breakout season a year ago, which has led to opposing teams calling for his services. We now know at least one suitor involved in the pursuit.
"(The Red Sox) have a deep stash of outfield prospects, which has teams asking about Jarren Duran," the New York Post's Jon Heyman wrote Thursday. "The (San Diego) Padres, seeking a lefty-hitting outfielder, are interested.
Duran hit .295 with 44 extra-base hits including eight home runs, 40 RBIs and a .828 OPS (121 OPS+) in 102 games before suffering a season-ending toe injury last season. He also stole 24 bases in 26 attempts and notably improved defensively from a year ago.
The 27-year-old has five more seasons of team control before reaching free agency and appears to be on the brink of solidifying himself as a cornerstone of the Red Sox's budding core.
Boston has a deep outfield group that includes Masataka Yoshida, Tyler O'Neill, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Rob Refsnyder with Roman Anthony rising up the pipeline. The Red Sox also are expected to add a right-handed bat with positional versatility, there is a good chance that player is an outfielder.
With that said, Duran has a chance to be the best player in that group. The Red Sox should be reluctant to make a move involving Duran, especially with the Padres -- who do not have a controllable starter on the trade block.
The Seattle Mariners or Miami Marlins -- each of which has multiple young, controllable budding frontline starters -- would be much better fits to trade Duran, who could be a sell-high option if he flames out.
However, with the entire focus of the franchise on the future, trading Duran before he reaches his prime feels premature.
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