The 2025 MLB season is a third of the way through and the trade deadline is fast approaching. The Boston Red Sox don't yet know whether they'll be buyers or sellers, but a June 2 report from Dennis Lin of The Athletic could push them in one direction.
Lin, a San Diego Padres beat writer, reports that the West Coast contender has interest in trading for Jarren Duran. This isn't the first time the Padres have had the outfielder on their radar — they also coveted Duran before the start of the 2024 campaign.
San Diego was one of the hottest teams in baseball early this season, but cooled down a bit in May. Its team batting average decreased from .253 in April to .238 in May, and its offensive needs have only increased after outfielder/designated hitter Gavin Sheets sustained a head contusion.
The Red Sox's outfield is jammed, which is likely part of the reason why they haven't yet promoted top prospect Roman Anthony despite his utter dominance in Triple-A. Trading Duran would open a roster spot for Anthony, and potentially additional room for Masataka Yoshida, a consistent hitter the Red Sox could desperately use.
Padres reportedly interested in trading for Red Sox's Jarren Duran amid offensive struggles
But Duran won't come cheap for the Padres. The 28-year-old was an American League MVP candidate last year after his breakout season on both sides of the ball. Duran has regressed a bit since last season, and he's slashed .264/.312/.406 with negative two outs above average in 60 games for Boston. He still has three and a half years remaining on his contract, though, which is more than enough to jack up the price on a potential trade for him.
The Padres' list of top 30 prospects isn't too impressive, by the Red Sox's standards. San Diego sent many of its most promising young players to the Nationals in the 2022 Juan Soto trade, and many of its current top prospects are far from MLB-readiness. The Padres' No. 1 prospect, shortstop Leo De Vries, appears to be out of the question as part of a potential trade package, according to Lin on an appearance on 97.3 The Fan, a San Diego radio station. Catching prospect Ethan Salas could be an option, although a much less preferable one from the Sox's perspective. Boston traded Kyle Teel, its expected catcher of the future, to the White Sox for Garrett Crochet over the winter, so they could be in the market for another young backstop. Unfortunately, Salas is currently injured and his bat is seriously underwhelming. He's batted .221/.305/.347 over 187 games across three years in San Diego's system.
The Red Sox very well could decide to sell high on Duran this year if they continue to fall out of the AL East race. They need roster spots for Anthony and Yoshida, who is owed well over $40 million through 2027, and the emergence of Jhostynxon Garcia could put even more pressure on the already-crowded outfield. But the Padres' return options for Duran are unimpressive compared to the rest of Boston's farm system, which could complicate or kill negotiations between the two teams.