The Red Sox have gone from afterthought to contender in a hurry, ripping off a 15-game winning streak and suddenly putting themselves in the AL Wild Card race. That kind of surge changes the conversation fast, and it has made Boston look much more likely to hold onto names like Aroldis Chapman, Willson Contreras, and Sonny Gray as the trade deadline approaches.
Still, one player has surfaced as a possible exception.
The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey wrote Friday that Jarren Duran remains a change-of-scenery candidate even with Boston’s turnaround. Duran, an All-Star outfielder, has struggled through a down year and is hitting below .200, though McCaffrey noted he still flashes the kind of impact that made him stand out in 2024 and, at times, in 2025.
Boston’s outfield picture is part of why the idea has come up. The Red Sox opened the season with four outfielders in Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, but Anthony has been sidelined since May with a torn finger ligament.
McCaffrey wrote that the Red Sox do not have an obvious direct replacement for Duran, but there are internal options they could try in left, including Jahmai Jones or Nate Eaton. She also pointed out that Duran could be included with prospects in a deal for a right-handed bat, and added, "A change of scenery might help him, too."
Even so, this is not a move Boston has to make. The bigger issue is what happens if Anthony does come back this season, because that would leave the Red Sox with a crowded outfield and a difficult roster decision.
In Other News...
Red Sox Top Prospect Just Crossed A Line And Paid For It
Justin Gonzales has become one of the more closely watched names in the Red Sox system, and the High-A Greenville Drive outfielder has the kind of size and power that tends to draw attention fast. Ranked as Bostons No. 3 prospect, he has been building a reputation as a player with loud tools and the sort of ceiling that makes every trip to the plate feel worth tracking.
The latest buzz, though, came from a moment that had little to do with prospect polish and everything to do with emotions running hot after a home run. The confrontation with Cal Stark turned a routine minor-league at-bat into a benches-clearing scene and quickly pushed Gonzales into the kind of spotlight teams usually try to avoid, leaving the Red Sox to manage both the talent and the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Have A Clear Infield Trade Fit They Can't Ignore
With roughly two weeks left before the trade deadline, the Red Sox are being cast as buyers rather than sellers, and the infield is one area that still looks like it could use a jolt. Boston has been linked to help on the dirt, and analyst Jim Bowden recently pointed to a contact-oriented infielder as the kind of addition that could fit both the lineup and the defense.
The appeal is easy to see from the Red Sox side. Their offense has spent too much time in the bottom third of the league in on-base production, so a bat that puts the ball in play has obvious value, and Bowden also noted the players improved work defensively after once being viewed as a well-below-average second baseman. For a club trying to stay aggressive at the deadline, that kind of profile is the sort of fit that can be hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Linked To Big Giants Veteran As Deadline Pressure Builds
The Red Sox are still hovering just above .500, but with the American League playoff race tight and the trade deadline drawing closer, Boston is being mentioned in a familiar kind of rumor mill. Reports have tied the club to a few notable names, including Angels shortstop Zach Neto and several Giants veterans, a sign the front office is at least exploring ways to add impact without losing sight of the bigger picture.
Matt Chapman is one of the more interesting names in that mix, but he also comes with the kind of price tag and current production that can make a fit complicated. Boston already has Caleb Durbin handling third base, so the appeal would have to come from elsewhere, and the other Giants names floating around, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers, may line up more cleanly with what the Red Sox need as they try to stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]