The Boston Red Sox have reportedly been open to trading All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran for a few months, but nothing has come to fruition.
This offseason, those rumors are bound to heat up. The Red Sox could look to land a star pitcher and more as a return for Duran, and there should be plenty of suitors for the speedy outfielder.
FanSided’s Cody Williams predicted the Red Sox would trade Duran to the Kansas City Royals in the coming weeks, which could net the Red Sox the return they’re looking for.
“In terms of suitors, though, it’s the Kansas City Royals that keep coming up. Even after a deal with Milwaukee that sent fourth-place Rookie of the Year finisher Isaac Collins to Kansas City, rumors have indicated that the Royals are still in on Duran,” Williams wrote. “The holdup right now appears to be that Boston wants Cole Ragans as part of the return, even if it costs them more than Duran. But it does still feel like there is a deal to be made, especially as the Red Sox eye more pitching.”
The Royals could cut ties with one of their top big league pitchers in a deal to bring Duran to Kansas City. This would give the smaller market Royals the star outfielder that they need to put at the top of the order alongside Bobby Witt Jr.
The Red Sox could look to land a pitcher like Cole Ragans, which would put the team in a good spot going forward. Adding a pitcher of Ragans’ caliber would instantly turn the Red Sox’s rotation into one of the better units in the American League.
The framework for a trade makes perfect sense. It’s unlikely that Boston trades Duran for prospects alone, so adding a big league pitcher into a deal would fit both sides.
More MLB: Red Sox Predicted To Land $116M Superstar After Munetaka Murakami Whiff
