The Red Sox are 23-32 on the season, 12 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East division. However, the team is only four games back of an AL Wild Card spot. Anything can happen over the course of the season. It’s unclear if the Red Sox will be active at the MLB Trade Deadline, but if they continue to lose, they could sell some pieces, even though Red Sox executive Craig Breslow is on record saying he doesn’t want to sell.
This is where Duran comes in. The lefty outfielder has seen his name surface in trade rumors in the past, and teams will be interested in his services. If Duran continues to hit the ball at the rate he is at, there will be a handful of teams looking to add him to their lineup.
One of those teams could be the Chicago Cubs. “The Cubs, you say? Why would the Cubs trade for another lefty outfielder when they have three in the lineup?” Well, here is why it could make sense.
Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer, Breslow, is a former executive with the Cubs before he replaced Chaim Bloom in 2023. Breslow spent years working with Theo Epstein in the Cubs’ front office. He has a great connection with the ballclub and could work something out that could benefit both sides.
Furthermore, outfielders/DH Ian Happ, Michael Conforto, and Seiya Suzuki are in the final years of their contracts. There have been no active talks about extending any of those three. The Cubs are also keen on bringing up outfielder Kevin Alcantara (Cubs No. 5 prospect) sooner rather than later.
Even though the Cubs are playing well and will likely contend for the postseason, thinking about the future is always smart. Why not add another impactful bat to make a serious run?
Duran’s overall season numbers are not where they should be, but he seems to have found his groove at the plate. Over the last 15 games, Duran has been one of the best hitters in the sport. He’s tied for second with a handful of players with eight extra-base hits and tied for 7th in home runs with four. He’s hitting .291 over his last 15 games with a .975 OPS and .321 over his last seven games with a .902 OPS.
He still possesses a great amount of value, but it would not take a large package to acquire him. Chicago could consider sending the Sox back major league talent like Happ, Conforto, Matt Shaw, or even Carson Kelly. Happ has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he would likely not want to be traded to a non-contender.
Trade Offer:
Red Sox receive
OF/INF Matt Shaw
2B/OF James Triantos – Cubs No. 9 prospect
LHP Riley Martin – Cubs No. 27 prospect
Cubs receive
OF Jarren Duran
This trade would help both teams. The Red Sox would be getting a promising prospect (Triantos) who could play second base and be paired alongside Franklin Arias, who is expected to be the future shortstop. Riley Martin is an MLB-ready prospect who could make an impact in Boston in the near future.
Matt Shaw gets a reset in Boston, as it seems there might not be a place for him in Chicago long term. Shaw can play all over the field and would be a great player for the Red Sox to have as they rebuild.
Whether Suzuki or Happ resigns or leaves, the Cubs would have Duran, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Alcantara as a very promising trio for the future.
One of the hottest hitters in baseball right now is Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. Duran started the season on the wrong note as the Red Sox seriously struggled out of the gates. Things don’t necessarily seem to be changing directions at this point in the season, but Duran is doing all he can to make an impact.
