Red Sox Nation is just waiting for the moment they get the breaking news notification pop-up on their phone that the team has traded away one of their outfielders. With the surplus of starting caliber outfielders the team currently possesses, and the rumors surrounding the team's activity in the trade market, fans know it's only a matter of time until one of them is used in a blockbuster deal.
The player who seems to be drawing the most interest is Jarren Duran. The 29-year-old's name has been thrown around in mock trades since the trade deadline and is now being connected to any team with a hole to fill in the outfield.
Recent reports suggest the Sox and Royals were having conversations around a Duran trade. Kansas City has been open about its desire to improve in the outfield, but also not wanting to raise payroll. That would seemingly make Duran a great option for KC, but they deemed the Sox's asking price too high. That lines up with what Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel wrote about Duran in their recent ranking of offseason trade candidates.
Just as Duran fits the Royals' needs, the Royals have players that fit the Red Sox's needs. Kansas City has pitching to spare, including a front-line arm in Cole Ragans, who has the ceiling to fit the mold of a No. 2 starter or better. If they are looking to do a bat-for-bat trade, then Vinnie Pasquantino is a player who would provide an instant upgrade to the lineup.
While it sounds like the Royals have pivoted away from the Red Sox for now, saying they are looking at a right-handed bat, the book hasn't been closed on the two sides matching up. If they were to strike a deal, here's what that package could look like:
This Jarren Duran trade package could get the job done with the Royals
Red Sox send OF Jarren Duran, IF Mikey Romero, and RP Zack Kelly to the Royals for SP Cole Ragans and RP Carlos Estevez
In this trade, they would get Ragans, a lefty starter who two seasons ago finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting, but in 2025 only pitched 61 2/3 innings at a 4.67 ERA. He missed most of 2025 with two separate injuries: a groin strain caused him to miss half of May, and then a rotator cuff strain in his throwing arm after one start cost him over three months. He showed incredible potential in 2024, but his value is down after '25.
The Sox would also get Estevez, an All-Star closer last season, to bolster the back end of their bullpen. The righty has one year of his two-year, $22.2 million contract left, but also has a team option for $13 million for 2027. With the Royals looking to keep their payroll the same as last season, moving off his contract would probably be a plus for them.
Romero heads back in the deal as the prospect returns for the Royals. While Romero has played mostly shortstop in the minors, he projects as a second or third baseman in the majors, which works well since they have Bobby Witt Jr. The 21-year-old former first-round pick doesn't have a spot in Boston and is a year away from Rule 5 eligibility, so it makes sense for Boston to move him to a team that could use him when he is MLB-ready.
Kansas City also gets Kelly in this deal. The righty reliever will replace the spot in the Royals bullpen vacated by Estevez. Kelly has four years of control remaining, and importantly, still has a minor league option, so he can be sent to Triple-A for bullpen flexibility.
This deal would be a win-win for both sides. The Royals get to shed almost $8 million against the CBT by trading those two pitchers, while making a massive upgrades to their outfield, plus getting infield depth. The Red Sox get to raise the ceiling of their rotation and bolster their bullpen while not breaking the bank.