MLB Network unveiled its annual positional rankings Tuesday, and the Red Sox dominated the left-field list — Jarren Duran claimed the top spot, with Roman Anthony close behind at No. 2.
The ranking comes amid an offseason filled with speculation surrounding Boston’s crowded outfield and the possibility that the club could trade from its depth to address other areas of the roster. Duran, in particular, was frequently mentioned in trade rumors.
As the Red Sox head into spring training, Duran is projected to open the season as the club’s starting left fielder, flanked by Gold Glove winners Ceddanne Rafaela in center field and Wilyer Abreu in right. It should be noted that you can make a strong case for Anthony to be the starting left fielder on Opening Day.
Anthony is also expected to factor into the mix, capable of handling both corner outfield spots while serving as a DH option when Masataka Yoshida gets a day off.
Despite the perceived logjam, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made it clear the organization never seriously considered moving Duran or Abreu this winter.
“It was never likely in my mind,” Breslow said. “We’ve got really talented outfielders. When teams call, that’s what other executives point to. They’re young, they’re controllable, they’re dynamic, and they’re talented and can impact games in multiple ways. It’s really nice to be able to say they’re also members of the Boston Red Sox.”
Rumors swirled that the Sox were looking to unload Duran in exchange for front-of-the-rotation pitching. Royals left-hander Cole Ragans was the arm most frequently connected to Duran in trade talks. Boston ultimately pivoted, signing left-hander Ranger Suárez, while Breslow has continued wandering the free-agency desert in search of infield help. Infielder Dylan Moore’s name has been linked to the Red Sox, but he doesn’t really move the needle. If Boston wants to bring him in on a minor-league deal with a camp invite, so be it.
In theory, it made sense to at least discuss the idea of trading Duran, strictly due to the abundance of big-league-ready outfielders who will need everyday at-bats. Duran has been a dynamic player for Boston, bringing a combination of speed, power, and athleticism that naturally makes him an attractive trade piece.
From a financial perspective, Duran is set to earn $7.75 million this season and has two additional years of arbitration eligibility, allowing the Red Sox to control him through the 2028 campaign. His value is high—but not high enough to pry away the likes of Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, or even Ragans. Skubal was never really an option this winter but Ryan has been a Sox’ target since the trade deadline last summer.
Breslow and manager Alex Cora believe the current roster can work, even if it demands creativity and patience from their players.
“We talked a lot about our outfield depth, even calling it a surplus at times, coming out of the trade deadline,” Breslow said. “Then, for the month of September, we were without two very, very good players. I’ve yet to meet the person who says, ‘We have too many good players.’
“Alex is really, really talented as it relates to communicating with players, getting the most out of them, and keeping them fresh and engaged. Going into spring training with the group we have is something I’d be comfortable with in terms of the outfield, but if there are opportunities to improve the team and address other needs via that group, we have to at least be willing to listen.”
Anthony, Duran, Rafaela, and Abreu give the Red Sox four of the best defensive outfielders in the game—the problem is, Boston has four players for three spots. One potential solution would be moving Rafaela to second base at times to spread around at-bats. While it’s difficult to justify shifting a Gold Glove center fielder off his natural position, it remains an option—though far from ideal.
Rafaela logged 165 innings over 24 games (19 starts) at second base in 2025 and is a gifted defender who will play at a high level wherever Boston deploys him in 2026.
“Ceddanne is an incredibly gifted athlete and can impact the game in so many ways,” Breslow said. “He is game-changing in center field. We saw that this year. Giving him the consistency of playing the same position every single day also has benefits to his offense.”
If Boston were to go in that direction, Duran would theoretically shift to