Jarren Duran's name has been thrown into trade rumors for months. After their 10-game winning streak before the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox are expected to be major players at this year's trade deadline.
Reporters and insiders theorized that Duran could be part of a blockbuster to net the Red Sox some top-tier pitching. The latest reporting from Rob Bradford of WEEI suggests that won't be the case — multiple league sources have shared that Boston has no intention of trading Duran before the July 31 deadline.
Bradford characterized Duran as a clubhouse leader, which makes sense given the average age of players on this year's team. The Red Sox could also get more value for him over the offseason, when teams are more motivated to take big swings for the year ahead.
A few injuries have popped up that also necessitate an extra outfielder in the Sox's lineup. Marcelo Mayer has been sidelined with a wrist sprain, and manager Alex Cora has been blunt about the severity of his diagnosis. Ceddanne Rafaela has played much more second base than the best defensive outfielder in MLB should in Mayer's absence, and Duran has filled in well for him in center field.
Red Sox no longer willing to trade Jarren Duran before trade deadline, per insider
Roman Anthony may also be at risk for an injured list stint after a pitch hit his foot in the first inning of Boston's July 27 bout with the Dodgers. Anthony went down into the clubhouse during the game to have his foot examined by a trainer, but continued playing after — he may be fine, but this is not the time for the Red Sox to take a risk and slash their outfield depth.
Duran has also taken off at the plate in recent games, and Boston has needed the boost. July has been Duran's best month offensively, and he's posted a .290/.388/.594 slash line with six doubles, three triples and three homers in 20 games since the start of the month.
Duran could have been part of a deadline-defining trade to secure long-term pitching additions for the Red Sox, but there aren't many top-tier, multi-year starters on the market. If Craig Breslow wasn't going to be able to trade for exactly the pitcher he wanted, he should save Duran for a potential offseason move. After its latest injuries, Boston needs the outfield depth Duran brings more than it needs to make a massive trade.