Jarren Duran has been the spark plug in that Boston Red Sox locker room for roughly a season now. Making the MLB All-Star team last year as a reserve in 2024, hitting the game-winning two-run home run off of Hunter Greene, and winning him the All-Star Game MVP.
His best accomplishment was not even that. He recorded a baseball-leading 48 doubles and 14 triples, all while hitting 21 home runs, recording 75 RBIs, with a .285/.342/.492 slash line, and a career-high OPS+ of 131. He also finished 8th in American League MVP voting.
Duran's the best four-tool player on the market this season, and that's despite him having a bit of a down year. He's batting .254 with 10 triples, 25 doubles, and a slugging percentage of .428, and an OPS+ of 107. These are all still good numbers, and teams want him on their team, especially the San Diego Padres.
Just recently, they called up Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow with a seemingly good enough offer. The Padres reportedly offered to trade right-handed ace Dylan Cease, prospect catcher Ethan Salas, and another unnamed prospect for Duran's services. However, Breslow "quickly" rejected it, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive.
The Padres made an offer to the Red Sox for Jarren Duran involving Dylan Cease, per @Sean_McAdam.
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) July 25, 2025
The package also included catching prospect Ethan Salas and another prospect (not shortstop Leo de Vries).
The Red Sox quickly rejected it. pic.twitter.com/MRicJYkcmf
Many suggest that they include top shortstop prospect Leo De Vrias in the deal, which makes absolutely no sense. The Red Sox are set in the infield for years, despite Kristian Campbell struggling this season. I don't understand why people want him. Despite his talent, the Red Sox don't need him, and if McAdam is right about the Padres "aggressively pursuing" Duran and didn't offer De Vrias in there, there's a reason, no?
Now people are assuming that Duran is here to stay, and I'm right there with them on this. There's no reason to trade Duran right now, and if teams are desperate enough, they'll call back in the offseason. Knowing Padres general manager A.J. Preller, he's probably annoying Breslow with all the missed calls on his phone line.
Regardless of what happens, more will be known about Duran's Red Sox future by the time next week's MLB trade deadline passes.