Jarren Duran is in his fifth major-league season with the Boston Red Sox after making his debut in 2021.
The 28-year-old outfielder was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of California State University, Long Beach and spent three seasons in the minors before his call-up to the major-league roster.Duran broke out in 2024, earning his first All-Star selection and finishing eighth in MVP voting. As a result, contenders around baseball, notably the San Diego Padres, coveted Boston’s leadoff man for his blend of speed and emerging power.
Duran is under team control for the next three seasons and will not become an unrestricted free agent until 2029.
Today, before the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, Duran addressed the possibility of being traded in a strong message. “I mean, they talked about me last year getting traded, too, to the Padres and stuff like that. But I don’t really take any of that into account because I don’t really have any say over it,” Duran said per MassLive’s Christopher Smith.This season has been a letdown compared to last year’s breakout. Through 81 games, Duran is batting just .254 with a .711 OPS, five homers and 20 stolen bases—and his on-base percentage has dipped to .307.
Boston entered the year believing its revamped roster could challenge for an AL East crown after adding pitching depth and star third baseman Alex Bregman. Instead, inconsistency and injuries have left the club at 40–42, and former franchise superstar Rafael Devers was dealt to the San Francisco Giants after ongoing disputes with the front office.As the Red Sox push through to the All-Star break, Duran’s ability to recapture his 2024 form could determine whether Boston shifts into a rebuild mindset.