Red Sox insider adds intriguing wrinkle to Jarren Duran trade rumors

Jarren Duran has been the subject of near constant trade rumors this season. Thanks to breakout years from Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela and the call-up of top prospect Roman Anthony, it's becoming increasingly clear that Duran will likely be on the move at some point.

It's hard to believe after he had such a great 2024 campaign, and it's not like Duran has been bad in 2025. He just hasn't been quite as good as Abreu and Rafaela and he's also older than those guys. Anthony, meanwhile, demands starting time due to his potential. Duran can play an important role on many contending teams, but the reality of the Red Sox outfield is that he won't have a place to play long-term.

However, it's unclear when Duran will be traded. In a recent episode of the Fenway Insider podcast, insider Sean McAdam hinted that Duran might not be traded until after the season is over. He argued that "If you have an extra bat and an extra productive outfielder for the final two months of the season, it's not the end of the world."

Jarren Duran might not be traded until the offseason, per Red Sox insider

However, he did seem convinced that Duran would not be on the roster come 2026, saying, "Long term, you cannot survive with Rafaela, Abreu, Anthony and Duran. One of those has to go." Not only is the outfield too crowded, but it's likely that the DH spot will be platooned between Masataka Yoshida and Rob Refsnyder.

Much will depend on how the Red Sox perform for the rest of July. If they can continue their recent hot play, which will be helped by the return of Alex Bregman, they could be very much in the mix for a wild card spot, or even the division title given the struggles of the Yankees. Trading Duran at that point would be a mistake, as he can continue to provide value for a potential stretch run.

Not only that, but Duran's value isn't markedly higher now than it will be in November. He'll still have three years of club control remaining after this season, making him a precious commodity. This isn't a situation where the alternative to trading him at the deadline is watching him walk in free agency and getting nothing in return. The Red Sox can afford to take their time.