The Boston Red Sox have turned their season around after a poor stretch following the Rafael Devers trade. The team was five games above .500 entering play on Friday and held a claim on a wild card spot.

While the Red Sox are playing better baseball, the team is not without flaws. It still has a logjam in the outfield. However, the Red Sox could use their surplus of outfielders to add to their roster in other spots.

All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman has been far from a weakness for the team. Overall, the bullpen has a 3.54 ERA, which is the seventh-best in baseball. However, Chapman is about to become a free agent, and there is no such thing as too many good relievers in a bullpen.

While discussing what the Cleveland Guardians could get in return for Emmanuel Clase, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden proposed the Guardians “offer him to the Red Sox for Jarren Duran.”

Duran was an All-Star last season, but he may be the odd man out in Boston. Roman Anthony is not going to be traded and Ceddanne Rafaela has already signed an extension. However, between Wilyer Abreu and Duran, the latter is older and has less club control.

Duran has seen his numbers decline from last season, but he is still a productive player. He is slashing .260/.318/.434 with a league-leading 10 triples. Including him in a deal for Clase would solve the outfield logjam while also adding an elite closer.

Overall, Clase has a 3.12 ERA. However, since May 3, his ERA is 1.33 and he has recorded 14 saves. The Red Sox could plug him in at closer and make Chapman the setup man. They could also use a closer by committee approach, having an elite option against both righty and lefty heavy lineups.

Clase would be able to take over as the full-time closer next season and beyond. He is under club control through 2028, with $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028. That’s a bargain considering he is a three-time All-Star and two-time Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year.