The Philadelphia Phillies are already being pushed toward the 2027 season, and one possible answer in the outfield could come from Boston.
CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry included Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran on his list of the Top 25 MLB trade candidates for the 2026-27 offseason, a group of players he thinks could be dealt before Opening Day 2027. For Philadelphia, that kind of market matters. Outfield help is expected to be a priority, and the trade route looks like one of the clearest ways to get it.
Duran is coming off a rough 2026 season, one that fell well short of the standard he set the year before. He hit .207/.266/.361 with 20 homers, 15 doubles, five triples, 69 RBIs, 66 runs scored and a .627 OPS. Perry’s view is that a change of scenery could be in play after the worst year of Duran’s career since his rookie season.
That said, the upside is still obvious. Duran was an All-Star in 2024, when he turned in the best season of his career and finished eighth in American League MVP voting. He hit .285/.342/.492 that year, set career highs with 21 homers, 75 RBIs, 111 runs scored, 34 stolen bases and an .834 OPS, and led all of baseball with 48 doubles and 14 triples.
For the Phillies, the appeal is easy to see. A lineup already featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and JT Realmuto could give Duran some breathing room if he lands in Philadelphia. He wouldn’t be asked to carry the offense, and that could help him settle back in.
Perry labeled Duran a “bold possibility from contenders” and defined that group as “Core contributors on teams with legit playoff/World Series aspirations who, despite those factors, still may be on the block for reasons of salary escalation, to fill roster needs elsewhere, or to make room for an incoming high-ceiling prospect.”
He also put the odds of a deal at 50%, noting that Duran has been in trade rumors since last offseason. The Red Sox outfielder is hardly a new name in that conversation, and this winter already has the feel of a pivotal one.
The Cubs, Mariners and Rangers were also named as possible fits, but for Philadelphia, the fit is clear enough: if the Phillies are going to swing big for an outfielder, Duran is the kind of gamble that could make sense. It would come with risk, sure, but the ceiling is still there.
In Other News...
Phillies Infield Plan May Come Down To One Risky Free Agent
The Phillies offseason infield search could end up circling around a familiar kind of gamble: adding a bat-first second baseman with real upside, but a track record that makes any commitment tricky. Brandon Lowe has been linked as a possible fit, and the appeal is obvious for a club looking to keep its lineup dangerous while sorting out the middle infield. The Athletic even floated a three-year, $63 million projection, a price that suggests there is enough interest to imagine this getting serious.
Lowes offensive production is what makes him stand out in a market where dependable infield help can disappear quickly, but the injury history is the part that keeps the conversation from feeling simple. For the Phillies, the question is whether the payoff is worth the risk if they decide to chase a player who could change the look of their infield depth chart. No agreement has been reported, and for now the idea remains just that, a possibility with enough upside to keep the rumor mill moving. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Have An Odd Voice In Baseballs Most Heated Fight
Garrett Stubbs may no longer be in the Phillies clubhouse, but he still has a seat at one of baseballs biggest tables. The former Philadelphia catcher is serving as the teams player representative in Major League Baseballs ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, keeping him involved in union meetings and votes even after being designated for assignment and moving on from the roster.
Its an unusual arrangement, but one that underscores how the labor fight extends beyond the players currently wearing a uniform. The talks have been especially contentious around the proposed salary cap, which players have pushed back against, and Stubbs role gives Philadelphia an indirect voice in a debate that could shape the sports next labor landscape. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Face A Brandon Marsh Decision That Could Divide Fans
The Phillies are heading into the offseason with the outfield once again under a microscope, and Brandon Marsh sits at the center of it. He gave the club plenty to like in the first half of the 2026 season, enough to remind everyone why he has been such an important part of the roster, but his second-half slide left the front office with a tougher evaluation than anyone wanted going into winter.
Philadelphia is trying to find more offense from its outfield, and that puts Marsh in a complicated spot. He has enough value to draw real interest if the Phillies decide to explore a trade, but moving on from a player with his upside would not sit well with everyone in the fan base. The decision is still ahead of them, and it could end up being one of the more debated calls of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]