The trade winds are picking up in San Diego, and Red Sox breakout outfielder Jarren Duran is the target on the radar. According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Padres are actively pursuing Duran on the trade market. And this isn’t new interest either—they were eyeing the 27-year-old even before the 2024 season.
The emergence of Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill back then cooled those talks as both played their way into All-Star selections. But with Gavin Sheets now sidelined following a nasty collision with the left-field wall, San Diego suddenly has a real need—and Duran might just be the answer.
Why Duran? Why Now?
Let’s talk numbers. Duran is coming off a monster 2024 season:
- 21 home runs
- 75 RBI
- 48 doubles, 14 triples
- .285/.342/.492 slash line
- And a shiny All-Star nod + MVP votes to boot
Now, in 2025, while he hasn’t quite matched last year’s pop, he’s still producing. Through 60 games, he’s hitting .264 with 34 RBI, and his six triples are tied for the most in MLB.
Combine that with plus speed, centerfield range, and the fact that he’s earning just $3.75M and is under team control through 2028, and you’ve got a potential goldmine of value.
Boston’s Side of the Deal
Why would the Red Sox even consider moving a player like Duran? Well, it comes down to timing and depth. Boston sits at 29-32, fourth in the AL East, and top prospect Roman Anthony is knocking on the big-league door.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter lists him as the No. 1 overall prospect. Anthony’s eventual promotion likely forces the Red Sox to make space in an already crowded outfield.
According to Lin, Boston might consider Duran “expendable” which is a big shift for a player who looked like a foundational piece just months ago.
The Padres’ Situation
San Diego needs help badly. With Sheets potentially out long-term, the fallback options of Tyler Wade (.585 OPS) and Brandon Lockridge (.524 OPS) don’t exactly inspire confidence.
Manager Mike Shildt has done a masterful job mixing and matching. Still, at some point, the team needs real production from the outfield corners—especially if they’re serious about pushing back into the NL playoff picture. Duran isn’t just a patch job. He’s a long-term fix.
What It Might Cost
The price won’t be light, given Duran’s contract, performance, and control. Think multiple prospects or a major-league-ready piece. The Padres farm system has talent but lacks top-tier depth after several blockbuster trades in recent years.
They’ll need to get creative—perhaps packaging one of their few upper-minors arms or a young bat like Ethan Salas or Jackson Wolf—to get Boston’s attention.
Heading to Padres: Not Just a Rumor
Jarren Duran to San Diego isn’t just a rumor—it’s a deal that makes sense on both sides. The Padres get a sparkplug outfielder with upside and cost control. The Red Sox open a path for their top prospect and potentially reload with pieces for the future.
The trade deadline is still a ways off, but the Padres have a chance to strike early—and if they want to keep pace in the NL Wild Card race, pulling the trigger on Duran might be the bold swing they have to take.
