The Boston Pink Sox have a math downside.
Alex Cora’s membership enters the 2025-26 offseason with 4 starting-caliber outfielders — Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony — for simply three spots. All 4 gamers are beneath workforce management by way of at the very least the 2028 season.
One potential answer is shifting Rafaela to second base, however that is removed from excellent: Rafaela is without doubt one of the finest defensive heart fielders in baseball (his 21 outs above average ranked second in MLB final season), and the Pink Sox have been 12-12 within the 24 video games he performed at second in 2025.
One other answer, after all, is eradicating one outfielder from the equation. And it appears like that state of affairs is producing buzz in league circles — significantly because it pertains to Duran.
In his listing of the ten MLB stars most definitely to be traded this offseason, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden noted Duran’s title “retains arising in commerce rumors,” and that “it now sounds just like the Pink Sox will transfer on from him this winter.” Bowden listed the Phillies, Dodgers, Tigers, Guardians and Rangers as groups that will “like to land” the 29-year-old outfielder.
So, ought to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow begin working the telephones to discover a Duran commerce? Or is the 2024 All-Star too precious to half with because the Pink Sox eye one other postseason run in 2026?
Let’s work by way of the professionals and cons.
The case for buying and selling Duran
Whereas Duran led MLB in triples for the second straight yr, his batting common (.256) and OPS (.744) dipped considerably whereas his strikeout complete rose to 169 in 157 video games. Breslow additionally careworn a necessity for Boston so as to add extra energy this offseason after rating twenty seventh in residence runs in 2025, and Duran (16 homers) offers much less pop than a participant like Abreu, who went deep 22 instances in simply 115 video games.
Maybe most regarding, nonetheless, are Duran’s defensive stats: He dedicated a career-high seven errors within the common season — which does not embrace his brutal drop in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series that straight led to a Yankees run — and ranked 83rd among 109 qualified outfielders in outs above common (-4).
The Pink Sox must get higher defensively after committing essentially the most errors in baseball this season. In addition they want beginning pitching, and Duran — whose offense, velocity and contract (beneath workforce management by way of 2028) ought to attraction to a contender — is likely to be one among their strongest bargaining chips.
The case towards buying and selling Duran
What’s the good thing about holding 4 outfielders? Look no additional than this previous season, when Abreu and Anthony each missed vital time. Duran is sturdy — simply seven complete video games missed during the last two seasons — and is the top-of-the-lineup engine that makes Boston’s offense run.
One other issue to think about: Whereas Duran ought to command a haul on the commerce market, there’s purpose to be skeptical of Breslow maximizing Duran’s return. (See: the Rafael Devers commerce that introduced again Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III and Jose Bello).
You possibly can additionally make the case for buying and selling Abreu over Duran; the 26-year-old has loads of upside and is a greater defender however has handled three separate accidents prior to now two seasons.
The underside line
Breslow said it himself: The time is now for the Pink Sox to aggressively pursue upgrades and place themselves as critical playoff contenders. So, if there is a marketplace for Duran — as Bowden suggests — it is completely value exploring a possible commerce.
Boston has its outfield of the longer term in Anthony, Rafaela and Abreu, who’re all age 26 or youthful. If dealing Duran can deliver again some type of high quality pitching, that is a transfer value making to shore up a rotation that was pressured to lean on two late-season call-ups (Connelly Early and Payton Tolle) down the stretch.
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