The Boston Red Sox are looking to figure out that logjam in the outfield. Many were presuming that Jarren Duran would be the first to go, given that he’s under control over the next few seasons (until 2028) and that he’s a superstar that many teams (Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers) desperately need.
However, that’s not the case, and reports state that Duran is not going to be dealt by Thursday’s deadline, which caused many fingers to be pointing at Masataka Yoshida now instead of him. With the Red Sox looking to fix that outfield structure, they’ve already moved Ceddanne Rafaela to second base full-time after the Marcelo Mayer injury.
Red Sox fans shouldn’t be fooled, though.
Red Sox OF Jarren Duran Won’t Return to Boston in 2026
Just because Duran isn’t on the market right now, doesn’t mean he won’t be come December. Once Duran is officially done with his 2025 season, he will most likely be in another uniform before the new season. The question is, why don’t the Red Sox want to trade him?
First, he’s the spark plug in that clubhouse. It’s been said many times before, and it’ll be said a thousand times more. He’s the person the young guys look up to for inspiration and hard work. Duran is the example of a work-hard, play-hard player, and he’s gained the respect of everyone around him.
Second, it doesn’t make sense to get rid of Duran now when he’s one of the key contributors to their huge turnaround this season. Why would the Red Sox mess that up? There’s no reason to, as he’s still under team control for the next three years. If the Red Sox get rid of him now, a trade could do them more harm than good in the middle of their trying to make a push for the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 campaign. That doesn’t sound the most logical decision at all.
Is this guaranteeing that the Red Sox won’t move Duran by this week’s deadline? Of course not, but it’s a big likelihood that he’ll be gone after the season, rather than in the middle, and ruin the chemistry of the locker room.
