Trading All-Star outfielders with the Los Angeles Dodgers hasn't exactly yielded the best results for the Boston Red Sox in recent years, but there could be some logic in returning to that well this offseason.
Everyone and their mother knows about the Sox's outfield logjam, and as many have speculated, it appears that Jarren Duran will be the odd-man out when all is said and done.
Some insiders have refuted such reports, but it's clear with Kristian Campbell moving to the outfield full time (and Jhostynxon Garcia still looming in Triple-A) that the team needs to move someone over the offseason.
Duran, 29, has three years of team control remaining and will fetch a nice haul on the trade market if the Red Sox do make him available. Following news of Kiké Hernández's elbow surgery, the Dodgers' outfield is far from settled; could they emerge as the perfect Duran landing spot?
Jarren Duran-Dodgers trade pitch could help fix multiple Red Sox problems at once
As Connor Roche of Boston.com points out, the Dodgers will be looking for upgrades after coming two outs from losing the World Series this year. Left field stands out as obvious position of need (barring total belief in Tommy Edman to take over the position permanently), which is why they could make a strong push for Duran. Roche suggests that the Red Sox seek a return package centered around Hyeseong Kim, the Korean utility infielder who struggled a bit in his rookie campaign in 2025.
Through 180 plate appearances this past season, Kim hit .280/.314/.385. good for a 95 wRC+. His lack of power (three home runs) and strikeout troubles (30.6% strikeout rate) watered down his overall numbers quite a bit, but he's an immensely valuable player on a wildly affordable contract.
Here's what I said about Kim on the precipice of his rookie season with the Dodgers back in March: "Kim is a lefty batter and a lithe, speedy contact hitter, who batted .326/.383/.458 last season (and .335/.396/.446 in 2023). His OBP has exceeded .370 in each of the last four seasons, and his strikeout and walk rates both surpassed KBO league averages."
At just 26 years old and with two years and $8 million remaining on his contract (plus two $5 million club options for 2028 and 2029), Kim is worth betting on, especially because he has the defensive versatility to play everywhere on the diamond and displayed elite defense (nine Defensive Runs Saved, four Outs Above Average) in limited duty at second base in 2025.
Of course, Kim wouldn't be the only asset coming to Boston. The Dodgers' top-ranked farm system could yield a number additional prospects, including top pitching prospect Jackson Ferris. Alternatively, Dalton Rushing could be an excellent 1B catcher to Carlos Narvaez's 1A.
No matter what the final return package looks like, there's a really good trade matchup here... if the Red Sox have the stomach to send another great outfielder to the Dodgers.