The Padres may be one of the more intriguing teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches, but a move for Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran does not sound likely.
San Diego sits 2.5 games behind the final National League wild-card spot, and that leaves the club with a real decision to make: buy, sell, or stay put. A.J.
Preller has built a reputation for getting creative at the deadline, but this year could be different with a new ownership group coming in and the team underperforming. That kind of setup can push a front office toward caution.
Duran has been one of the names tied to the Padres because the fit is obvious on paper. San Diego needs more offense and another outfielder, and Duran has been the kind of player who would normally draw plenty of attention. But the latest read on the market suggests Boston is not eager to move him.
According to MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided, the Red Sox are unlikely to sell, which would take Duran off the table for San Diego.
"Preller would surely love this. But the Red Sox seem unlikely to sell, and Duran has had a super high value in trade talks that no team has met," Murray wrote. "I can’t see that happening this year."
Duran’s 2025 numbers help explain why the asking price has stayed so high, even with his struggles. He has hit .190 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs, and his OPS sits at .594.
That kind of production would not exactly solve the Padres’ offensive issues. San Diego has had its own problems at the plate, so adding another bat below the Mendoza Line would bring more risk than reward.
Still, the appeal is easy to understand. Duran has two more years of team control, and if he ever does become available, plenty of teams would line up. The Red Sox have reportedly set a steep price in talks, and the Padres do not have a lot of assets to spend.
If San Diego still has Duran on its radar after the season, an offseason deal could make more sense. Prices tend to come down in the winter, and Boston might be more open to moving him then.
In Other News...
Red Sox Suddenly Face A Risky Deadline Reunion Debate
With the Red Sox in the playoff race and their pitching staff already looking strong, the trade chatter around San Diego has taken on an oddly familiar shape. Bogaerts remains tied to a hefty contract, which is part of why any move involving him would be complicated, but the idea of the Padres reshuffling their roster has naturally set off speculation about what kind of return they might seek if they decide to listen.
For Boston, the attraction is obvious enough even without a formal offer on the table. A right-handed bat would fit a need, and Mason Millers reputation as a dominant late-inning arm only adds to the appeal of any larger conversation. Nothing has been announced, but the possibility of a deadline deal that would force the Red Sox to weigh present needs against long-term cost is the kind of idea that tends to linger until the market finally settles. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Made A Telling Move Before A Defining Braves Series
After a lopsided 19-2 win over the Royals, the Padres are still sitting at 49-50, which is the kind of record that makes every roster decision feel a little louder than usual. San Diego responded by shuffling its pitching staff again, bringing back Randy Vsquez and Wandy Peralta as it tries to steady things heading into a stretch that could say a lot about where this season is going.
The next test comes against Atlanta, and the club has already lined up its starters for that series, a sign the Padres are treating it like more than just another midseason set. Even with the recent surge of offense, there is still a sense around the team that the margin for error remains thin, which is why these moves and this matchup carry so much weight right now. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face A Deadline Dilemma With One Young Arm At Center
With the trade deadline approaching, the Padres are being tied to the kind of pitching gamble that tends to define this time of year. Freddy Peraltas name has surfaced in speculation as a possible move piece, and the appeal is obvious from San Diegos side: a chance to buy low on a right-hander whose season has not gone the way anyone expected, while the market around him starts to shift.
The harder part is what it would cost, and that is where Kash Mayfield enters the conversation. The left-hander has quickly become one of the organizations more interesting young arms, a first-round pick from 2024 who has already reached the Futures Game and is working his way through High-A. For the Padres, this is the familiar deadline dilemma: whether a controllable prospect is worth surrendering for immediate help, especially when the other club may be ready to move on from a pitcher with no extension momentum. [Read more 🡒]