Amongst all the different offseason discourse, a query looms giant: “What’s the very best factor to do about Jarren Duran?” The Sox simply came to an agreement on a new salary number with him, however there’s nonetheless a particular likelihood he will get traded away. Would maintaining him make extra sense, or would buying and selling him be the higher thought?
There are execs and cons to each. Duran does have a really devoted fanbase that might be devastated if he left. He brings plenty of hearth and coronary heart to the staff, and the celebratory Wally Head (who has opted for free agency) was his thought. When he’s good, he’s phenomenal.
However Duran wasn’t as much as his All-Star type final yr in comparison with 2024, and it confirmed. He stole considerably fewer bases this previous season than the season earlier than, which was odd given how famend he’s for his pace. His outfield protection continues to enhance in sure methods, however was lackluster at key moments. And whereas the membership likes to speak about him being a “chief”, it’s not particularly evident what his management fashion is, or how that has benefited the remainder of the staff.
So we are able to hope 2025 was an “off” yr and that 2026 will see a extra classic Duran. Buying and selling him, nonetheless, might yield items the staff wants. The Crimson Sox outfield is already overcrowded, and of all of the outfielders to commerce, Duran is your greatest (and possibly solely) possibility, apart from probably Masataka Yoshida, who barely performed within the outfield in any respect final season and doesn’t have a lot commerce worth anyway. Craig Breslow simply mentioned he’s not specializing in four-and-five starters, however buying and selling Duran for a mid-rotation starter might be a terrific thought. A brand new bullpen piece would additionally profit the staff. It might be tougher to commerce Duran for somebody with extra slug, however that’s what the entrance workplace can use the free company pool for.
It’s a chance both approach, as a result of you must wager on Duran both being higher subsequent yr, or whoever the Sox commerce Duran for being price it. Personally, I’m type of detached. After this previous season, I solely need him again on the staff if he’s going to be higher, a minimum of offensively. However what do you assume the staff ought to do?
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