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The Major League Baseball offseason is officially underway, and with a potential lockout on the horizon, teams may look to make moves sooner rather than later. The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in December, and with the MLB and MLBPA needing to negotiate a new path forward, November could see a flurry of activity as clubs prepare for a possible work stoppage.
For the Boston Red Sox, one player to keep an eye on is speedy outfielder Jarren Duran, according to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo. With the offseason here, a trade involving Duran is expected to be "squarely in play" for Boston, and it's something the 30-year-old might welcome given his career stage (he's two years from free agency) and his dwindling opportunity in Boston.
How other teams value Duran is the big question. Moving Duran and his projected $11.1 million arbitration salary could help the Red Sox achieve other winter objectives in an offseason where money might be tighter than people realize.
Duran's Future Up in the Air
The Red Sox's 2026 season ended on September 30, and since then, rumors and speculation have already begun. Duran has been the most popular name talked about. MassLive.com's Sean McAdam reported that Boston is "widely expected" to shop Duran and also shut down the idea of non-tendering the 30-year-old.
If the Red Sox were to flip Duran, what could they realistically get? Back in 2025, the San Diego Padres reportedly offered a package to Boston for Duran centered around catching prospect Ethan Salas, Dylan Cease (who was a pending free agent) and another prospect. Boston declined. In that scenario, the Red Sox would've gotten an ace for a few months along with one of the top overall prospects in the game and another prospect. Boston rejected the offer and it will not get one as good again.
Duran now has two seasons of control left. Before the 2025 trade deadline, Duran had three full seasons, plus a stretch run, of team control. Duran was a 9.0 WAR player in 2024. Even though the 2025 season wasn't as good for him, he was a 4.9 WAR player. In 2026, he was a 0.4 WAR player and batted .207, despite the fact that he did have a 20-20 season.
This past summer, the Red Sox flipped Marcelo Mayer in a deal that brought lefty reliever Erik Miller back to town. A package for Duran should be better than what the Red Sox got for Mayer. He struggled in 2026, but he has had significant big league success. Mayer has not yet. Even after a down year, Duran has big upside still.
So, you're likely not going to see an offer for Boston featuring an ace like Cease or an elite prospect, like Salas. But multiple mid-tier prospects and someone who can help in the majors right now should be the starting point.
The offseason is here and Boston fans need to keep a close eye on Duran.
Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick received an MBA at Brandeis University. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: [email protected] Follow patmcavoy.