Padres Blockbuster? MLB Insider Adds Fuel To Fire Of Trade Deadline Rumors

The Boston Red Sox are likely going to be aggressive buyers at the trade deadline as they look to add starting pitching and a first baseman in the coming weeks.

But Boston could part ways with talented outfielder Jarren Duran ahead of the trade deadline if it can net them some solid big leaguers in return.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently linked the San Diego Padres to a potential trade for Duran in the coming weeks.

“Duran had a huge breakout season in 2024, posting the seventh-best fWAR in the majors at 6.8. He overperformed his underlying metrics, though — i.e., had some lucky outcomes — and those metrics have regressed a bit this year,” Passan wrote. “Now, he’s underperforming them — he has been unlucky — so his true talent is somewhere south of that star-level figure but better than the roughly 2 WAR (commensurate with a solid regular) he’s on pace for this season.

“With Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox have the outfield depth to consider moving Duran for controllable, top-end pitching.”

The Padres are seemingly the best fit for Duran this season. San Diego needs a third outfielder as badly as any team in the game, and Duran would fit perfectly in left field alongside Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr.

But the Red Sox are contending, too. This deal could only make sense if the Padres are sending big league talent to the Red Sox in exchange for Duran. With no controllable starting pitching likely on the trade block for the Padres, they may have to send Robert Suarez and prospects to Boston if they want Duran.

Either way, if Boston does shop Duran, the Padres will almost certainly make a few solid offers.

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