Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was consistently mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason. A deal never came to fruition, and Duran is expected to begin the 2026 campaign with Boston. On Monday, the outfielder was asked about the swirling trade rumors.
“I never look at that stuff,” Duran said of the trade rumors, via Tyler Milliken. “My parents look at it enough for me. They text me and go, ‘Did you get traded?’ I’m like, ‘You really think I’m not gonna tell you if I get traded? Come on.’ I never give it any two cents. It’s in God’s hands and whatever happens, happens.”
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Duran, 29, was an All-Star in 2024. He was tremendous during the ’24 campaign, as he hit .285 with an .834 OPS. The outfielder added 21 home runs, 34 stolen bases and a league leading 48 doubles and 14 triples.
Duran took a step back in 2025. He still managed to lead the league in triples with 13, but Duran slashed just .256/.332/.442 to go along with a .774 OPS and 16 home runs. While it was not his best season, Duran still had some big moments. Additionally, Duran still features a high ceiling.
Why Would Red Sox Even Consider a Jarren Duran Trade?
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (16)© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
The Red Sox are not rebuilding, so considering moving on from a talented 29-year-old outfielder may seem like a surprising move. In the end, Boston ultimately held on to Duran, but why was he mentioned in trade rumors in the first place?
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Duran is still under team control through the 2028 campaign. It isn’t as if he’s on the verge of entering free agency. The thought process behind a potential trade was seemingly to add a top starting pitcher. Boston features outfield talent and depth, so perhaps the team felt like moving an outfielder could help them strengthen other areas of the roster.
Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida are among the other outfielders on the ball club. The Duran trade rumors began early in the offseason, but the Red Sox found a way to upgrade their starting rotation without moving him. They traded for Sonny Gray and signed Ranger Suarez, adding two quality pitchers to their Garrett Crochet-led starting rotation.
With Brayan Bello, Johan Oviedo, Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford among the other starters on the roster, Boston now features legitimate pitching depth. In fact, the Sox have so much depth that they could realistically consider trading a starter to add more depth at another position.
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As for Jarren Duran, it seems as if he will spend 2026 in Boston, where he will look to rebound and find his 2024 All-Star form once again.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.