Boston is poised to land a top-tier pitching this offseason. Coming out of general manager meetings, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow confirmed fans' and experts’ predictions that Boston must “raise the ceiling of the starting rotation” in an interview with the Boston Globe.
The Sox have been tied to several teams in the first week of the offseason. They are rumored to make an offer for Garrett Crochet, and the Sox might also be suitors Sonny Gray, Freddy Peralta, and Zac Gallen, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. But to get a star pitcher, the Sox must be willing to spend a bit.
Trading away currently rostered players is the most cost-effective form of currency for the Sox. Shelling out over $100 million is an expensive risk that could quickly backfire, and giving up prospects who are likely to contribute very soon doesn't seem like a wise strategy.
That’s why Cooper Criswell and Jarren Duran are in the best position to be traded this offseason by the Red Sox.
Red Sox trade candidates for 2024-2025 offseason: Cooper Criswell and Jarren Duran
Criswell appeals to any team that needs a solid fourth or fifth starter. He finished this season with a 4.08 ERA across over 99 1/3 innings. His perfect four innings against the Tigers on Sept. 1 shows his lights-out pitching potential. His improvement after signing with the Sox bodes well for his career, and his inexpensive contract will be attractive for teams like the Angels and Cubs, who need rotation depth.
Keeping Criswell provides little value for the Sox next year. Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock are expected to be back, and Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck’s arbitration salaries will be on the lower end. After adding an ace, there will be hardly any room for Criswell. Boston has enough rotation depth to afford to deal with Criswell and could be willing to part with him if the right offer comes their way.
Duran is another trade candidate after having fantastic back-to-back seasons. He batted .285/.342/.492, tallying 48 doubles and 14 triples, the most in the league. His defense is just as exceptional as his batting. He committed the fewest errors among center fielders, assisted the most outs as an outfielder, and turned the most double plays as a center fielder in 2024. His offense and defense make him an upgrade in any outfield and should warrant a high trade return while the Red Sox work on adding other options (Juan Soto? Re-sign Tyler O'Neill? Pave the way for Roman Anthony?).
Though it might be difficult to trade a player coming off such a successful year, Duran’s stock may be at its peak. He's rapidly improved since his first year with Boston in 2021 when he only played 33 games and performed poorly on both sides of the ball. While there aren't clear signs of him regressing, it's unlikely that he continues to improve at this rate as he approaches 30. With Gold Glover Wilyer Abreu on the right and Anthony expected to be called up next year, now might be the right time to trade Duran and get the most possible value.