The Red Sox already have one clear offseason priority taking shape, and it starts with Jarren Duran.
Before the 2027 offseason gets swallowed by collective bargaining agreement talks and the possibility of a lockout, there should be another wave of activity that looks a lot like a trade deadline. Boston figures to be part of it, with decisions looming in both the rotation and the outfield.
If Sonny Gray leaves and does not take his mutual option or sign a contract extension, the Red Sox could be shopping for another right-handed starter. But the bigger issue is the outfield, where the logjam still hasn’t gone away and could get even messier if Roman Anthony stays healthy.
That’s where Duran comes in. He remains the most obvious piece Boston can move, and maybe the clearest one after this season. He’s the only starting outfielder on the roster who has not produced enough offensively, and he adds yet another left-handed bat to a lineup already heavy on lefties.
MLB insider Mark Feinsand of MLB.com included Duran on his early list of intriguing offseason trade candidates, pointing to how much his value has slipped since 2024, when he finished eighth in American League MVP voting. Boston would almost certainly get less than it could have if it had dealt him at his peak, but the fit now is too awkward to ignore.
Duran’s numbers tell the story of a rough offensive year: a .207/.263/.367 slash line, 157 strikeouts and 37 walks in 137 games. He has still supplied some production, including 20 home runs and 69 RBI, but his doubles have dropped sharply from 41 last season to 15 so far.
There’s also the matter of the baggage that has followed him in Boston, including several unsavory interactions with fans. That history could make other clubs even more cautious when they assess his trade value.
Still, a new setting might be exactly what he needs. Boston can be a brutal place to play when the pressure piles up, and a change of scenery could help Duran reset and rediscover the form he showed a few years ago. Even so, the market is what it is, and his value has clearly fallen.
For the Red Sox, the conclusion is pretty straightforward: it’s time to move on from Duran, even if the return falls short of what they once might have gotten. With the 2027 free agent class described as underwhelming, he could still appeal to teams looking for affordable help in the outfield.
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