masslive
In a candid revelation, Jarren Duran acknowledged that he fully expected the Boston Red Sox to part ways with him prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. The outfielder, who has faced a challenging season, admitted to The Boston Globe that he believed his release was imminent.
"To be honest, I thought I was going to be released," Duran said. "I am the worst player in MLB statistically. I hate looking at the numbers, but when you're going bad, you look at the numbers and it was pretty obvious how bad I was. I thought I was going to be released."
Trade rumors have been a constant companion for Duran over the past few seasons, and his name surfaced again as the deadline approached. Given his on-field struggles, along with incidents involving fans and a notable confrontation with Willson Contreras, Duran found it hard to believe he was still in the everyday lineup.
"There were a couple times where I yelled at (interim manager Chad Tracy), like, 'I shouldn't be playing! What are you guys (expletive) doing? I shouldn't even be in this lineup,'" Duran recounted. "And then something good would happen, and Tracy would be like, 'That's why you're in the (expletive) lineup!"
Those words from Tracy proved prophetic on Tuesday night when Duran helped power the Red Sox to a commanding 14-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The left fielder went 2-for-4, including his second consecutive home run, showcasing the potential that keeps him in the lineup despite the season-long difficulties.
Key Analysis
Duran's honesty about his performance underscores the mental toll that a slump can take on a professional athlete. His gratitude for remaining with the Red Sox is palpable, as he expressed a desire to contribute to a playoff push. "I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to continue this run with this team and this organization," Duran said, "and hopefully make a playoff push."
Originally reported by masslive.