Red Sox & Padres Linked to Potential Big Trade

The San Diego Padres had a nice start to the season. A 16-6 mark had them in first place in the tough NL West on April 20th. But they've gone 17-18 since, and are on the lookout for some help in left field. They are being linked to Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, per Dennis Lin in The Athletic.

As the Padres face a daunting upcoming schedule and glaring holes at the bottom of their lineup, their list of trade targets again includes Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, league sources told The Athletic. The Padres expressed interest in Duran ahead of the 2024 season... Now, an underwhelming Red Sox team might consider Duran expendable.

"He is a player that the Padres do indeed like," added insider Robert Murray. "They've liked him for a while. He would solve their outfield problems for sure," Murray feels that Padres GM AJ Preller is likely to do his best to acquire Duran, if he really wants him.

"One thing I've always learned when it comes to AJ Preller, is that if there's a player that he really, really, really likes, he'll go out and get him."

The Red Sox will command a very high price in any Duran trade, but as Lin notes, they do boast two top-50 prospects in shortstop Leo De Vries and catcher Ethan Salas, so perhaps that could get Boston's attention.

The 28-year-old Duran was Top 10 in MVP balloting in 2024, and has another three years of team control, while being on a cheap $3.75 million deal this season, with a club option for $8 million in 2026 (still a good deal if he can get back to his '24 production.).

Duran's power numbers have taken a dip this season, as he has just four homers after launching 21 last year, but his 34 RBIs has him on pace for 90 ribbies, compared to 75 last season.

For the Padres, the need for outfield help is even more glaring right at the moment, after DH Gavin Sheets, who's been forced to play left field recently, had a frightening run-in with his face and the outfield wall on Sunday.

Scary moment for Gavin Sheets in the top of the 4th. Sheets managed to stand up and appears to be alert. He will exit this ballgame, and Brandon Lockridge will sub in left field. #Pirates @ #Padres pic.twitter.com/xSRqQubvuM
— @JohnSilvaJr (@JohnSilvaJr) June 1, 2025

Sheets is still being evaluated for a potential concussion.

In the meantime, the Padres rank 29th in the majors with a .530 OPS from their left fielders. Trying to swing a trade for Duran could continue to be a priority for the Friars.