The Houston Astros may be looking to add, not subtract, as the trade deadline approaches, and one name has surfaced as a possible fit: Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Houston has no plan to move Yordan Alvarez, despite the fact that he remains one of the best hitters in baseball. Instead, the Astros are expected to be buyers, with the club sitting at 45-47 and only 2.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden on Monday, one of Houston’s top offensive priorities is clear.
"The Astros are searching for a left-handed-hitting outfielder with pop to better balance their lineup. There are not a lot of players available who fit that profile, but a few significant ones they should target include Jarren Duran, Kerry Carpenter, Ryan O’Hearn and maybe even Mickey Moniak," Bowden wrote.
Of that group, Bowden pointed to Duran as the best match for the Astros.
"Duran needs a change of scenery and would thrive in the Astros’ strong clubhouse environment," he wrote.
Duran, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP, is having a rough season on a Red Sox team that appears headed toward selling at the deadline. He has 13 home runs and 43 RBIs, but his .620 OPS in 81 games is far below expectations.
A move away from Boston could make sense for a player of Duran’s caliber, especially given the incidents he has dealt with involving fans over the years. For Houston, the appeal is straightforward: another left-handed bat in the middle of the order.
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