In the offseason, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow promised to build a team that could compete for the American League East division and the postseason in 2025.
As things stand on July 15th, Breslow has built a team that is in a position to do exactly that. Coming into the All-Star break, the Red Sox have a record of 53-45 and are only 3.5 games out of first place in the AL East. After winning their last 10 games, including a four-game sweep of the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, the Sox look to continue their hot streak when their season resumes Friday against the Chicago Cubs.
Even with the team firing on all cylinders, Breslow should still look to improve the team to ensure there is playoff baseball at Fenway Park this year. With the trade deadline less than a month away, Breslow has spoken to reporters about his desire to upgrade the rotation. In a recent interview on Rob Bradford’s Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, Breslow said:
"We're not just looking for bodies that we can call starting pitchers, right? Like, if we're going to bring somebody in, they need to really move the needle for us. And so that's where we'll have our sights set."Craig Breslow , Red Sox CBO
Plenty of starting pitchers are rumored to be available, but landing a true top-of-the-rotation arm won’t come cheap.
If the Red Sox were to make such a trade, the centerpiece of a potential deal could be one of their outfielders. One outfielder in particular who is no stranger to popping up in trade rumors is 2024 All-Star Jarren Duran.
Last season, Duran was one of the best players in all of baseball. During his breakout season, Duran earned his first All-Star nod and was named All-Star Game MVP. He also led the league in doubles and triples while also hitting 21 home runs with 34 stolen bases. That production translated into a stellar 8.7 WAR season.
This year, Duran has not come close to replicating his numbers from last year. Through 97 games, he is hitting .258 with 8 home runs and 16 steals. But at 28 years old, and under contract through the 2028 season, Duran could bring back a legitimate number 2 pitcher to slot in behind Garrett Crochet. If Breslow truly wants to land a difference-maker, dealing Duran might be the cost of doing business.