Jarren Duran is actually showing signs of life! But it's putting the Boston Red Sox in a bit of a weird position ahead of August's trade deadline.
The California native struggled greatly to begin the season (.170 BA, 1 HR, 11 RBIs through April), but he has turned things around in a major way since (.241 BA, 11 HRs, 26 RBIs since May 1). He is also in the midst of a six-game hitting streak and has the second-most home runs on the team this season (12 - only behind Willson Contreras' 16).
Duran has been a popular trade candidate for quite some time in Boston, and with the team having a big logjam in the outfield, it's easy to understand why the team should move on from him. However, it's also tough to deny that he's been far and away one of the Red Sox' biggest bright spots for nearly the last two months. And if they're actually serious about being playoff contenders as soon as this season (doubtful), it would make sense to stick with him.
So, does Boston sell high on Duran while it can, or does it keep him around for the foreseeable future since it's clear he provides value in every area of the game?
The Red Sox should still trade Jarren Duran this season
Duran's hot streak may be more than that, but it doesn't change the fact that the Red Sox 1) still have way too many outfielders, and 2) aren't going to make the playoffs this year anyway. They should be sellers at this year's deadline, and moving on from Duran absolutely falls into that.
Boston already has a plethora of talented outfielders on the roster. Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela both look like legitimate assets in the field and at the plate (and they are both under 27 years old), and Roman Anthony is probably Boston's best all-around hitter on the roster (at least on paper... and when healthy). (The jury is still out on Masataka Yoshida, but even if the Red Sox opted to trade him instead of Duran, he wouldn't bring back nearly as much in return.)
The team also has other intriguing outfielders climbing the rankings in the minors, like Justin Gonzales, Enddy Azocar, and Miguel Bleis.
Duran is more than a solid player, but he has already overstayed his welcome in Boston, is turning 30 years old in September, and will probably never return to his 2024 form. He has talent, but the Red Sox would be better off moving on from him this season, committing to the youth movement, and getting some real assets in return.
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