Jarren Duran Gives Boston Fuel to Complete Trade That Didn’t Happen

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran

Perhaps that social media post was not wrong, just a bit premature … by four-plus months.

In the final moments before the MLB trade deadline on July 31, when media members are digging to uncover that big scoop about a last-minute deal, MLB on Fox threw a wild pitch, posting a “breaking news” alert on X (formerly Twitter) that Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan had just been traded to the Boston Red Sox . Wild reactions ensued, with Red Sox fans rejoicing the addition of a top starting pitcher and Twins followers lamenting the loss of yet another big name in the ongoing fire sale, while baseball people in general were dazzled by what seemed to be a huge move to shift the power in the American League.

Except that it never happened .

It appears that in its zeal to amplify the news quickly, MLB on Fox read the report incorrectly. The post cited Jon Morosi of MLB Network as the source, but the message from Morosi a few minutes earlier referencing Ryan simply stated that Boston had “made a late effort to acquire” the Twins right-hander.

But maybe that “late effort” just needed more time to materialize.

Jarren Duran Could Be the Chip to Complete Boston’s Trade for Twins Pitcher Joe Ryan

As the Red Sox look ahead to 2026 following their loss in the AL Wild Card Series to the New York Yankees, strengthening the starting rotation is among the top items on their to-do list. So after reportedly coming close to acquiring Ryan in July, Boston would be wise to reopen those lines of communication to see if an agreement could be reached during the offseason.

And this time, Jarren Duran could be floated as a potential starting point.

Duran, the 29-year-old outfielder who emerged as Boston’s high-energy spark plug and potential MVP candidate in 2024, saw his 2025 season end in disappointment. After a solid year offensively (.256/.332/.442 slash line, with 16 home runs, 84 RBIs and 24 stolen bases), he struggled mightily in the postseason, both in the field and at the plate, adding a jolt of trade buzz following a season filled with rumors.

Boston opened the season with an outfield of Durran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, but with the MLB debut of Roman Anthony, the push for more time from Rob Refsnyder, the eventual return from injury of Masataka Yoshida … suffice to say that there is a logjam, and trade chatter has surrounded the group for months, with Duran’s name often mentioned. Throw in the fact that top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia — the team’s No. 3 prospect , who Boston reportedly offered in July’s near-deal for Ryan — is still blocked by the same crowd, and the idea of packaging Duran and Garcia together makes sense.

That combination could give Minnesota both a proven MLB leadoff threat and a projectable young bat with legitimate upside.

Packaging Jarren Duran and Jhostynxon Garcia Could Bring Joe Ryan to Boston

Ryan, 29, has quietly developed into one of the most efficient right-handers in the American League. He posted a 13–10 record with a 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 194 strikeouts against just 39 walks in 171 innings in 2025 — elite control and workload durability that the Red Sox rotation badly needs. While Garrett Crochet gives the Red Sox a true ace, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has stated that the team will be looking for a clear No. 2 starter, and Ryan, under team control through 2028, would check that box perfectly.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has said publicly that Ryan and Pablo López are expected to remain in Minnesota through 2026. But that feels more like negotiation posture than conviction. Minnesota has quietly explored deals for both pitchers to replenish their depleted farm system. Given Boston’s organizational depth in outfielders but lack of pitching, there’s a clear path to common ground.

If the Red Sox were close in July, it means the groundwork has already been laid. And now, with winter coming and the rotation again in flux, it might finally be time to finish what the rumor mill started.

Dave Benson is a veteran writer with over three decades of journalism experience covering sports primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent several years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson