The speculation has begun on which outfielder the San Diego Padres will pursue to play in left field. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller faces a tough decision this summer and the player acquired could provide a seismic result in pushing the Padres to the postseason.

As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, The Athletic’s (paid subscription service) Padres beat writer Dennis Lin is reporting Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is top on the list of Preller’s desired trade targets. Upgrading the left field position has become his top priority. If Preller wants to add a quality player like Duran, it will require parting with top lower-level minor-league prospects.

The Red Sox conundrum

The Red Sox have been a disappointment in 2025. After signing free agent starting pitcher Walker Buehler and third-baseman Alex Bregman, the BoSox were the media’s sleeper pick to win the American League East. Today, they find themselves mired in fourth place with a 29-33 record, nine games behind the division-leading New York Yankees.

The frustration of Red Sox Nation has become evident. They want changes, and one name that comes up daily is baseball’s top minor-league prospect, Roman Anthony. He is batting .306 at Triple-A Worcester, so his major league debut is imminent. Once Anthony is brought up, Duran becomes expendable.

What Duran offers to San Diego

It is hard to imagine a player of his ability is on the trading block. Duran is coming off an outstanding 2024 season. He batted .285 with 21 HR, 71 RBI and 34 SB. His offensive surge carried the Red Sox for long stretches last season. It earned the Corona native a roster spot in last summer’s All-Star Game. In a reserve role, Duran hit a two-run homer and was named ASG MVP.

Duran had a slow start to 2025, as his offensive numbers were below par. Opposing pitchers prey on him by expanding the strike zone. The approach has dropped his walk rate from 7.3% in 2024 to 5.7% this season. Currently, he is batting .272 with 4 HRs and 34 RBIs in 261 at-bats and seems to be on an upward trend at the plate. If acquired, Duran will anchor the Friars’ bottom third of the batting order.

Defensively, Duran can catch the baseball, as he split time between left and center field last season. Athleticism is a required skill for any potential left-fielder the Padres are considering to obtain in a trade. Duran can cover the spacious left-field terrain in Petco Park. His glove work will give the Friars one of the best outfields in the majors.

The left-field position has been the root of the Padres’ problems this season. The platoon of Brandon Lockridge and Jason Heyward offers two outstanding defenders who are not an offensive threat. Most postseason contenders have lineups strong enough to cover up one low-productive batting spot. But it is impossible to mask the lack of production from the bottom third of the batting order.

Duran is the perfect addition because he extends the lineup and provides matchup troubles for opposing managers. Adding another productive stick creates a more balanced lineup that eliminates the use of lefty-righty relievers to neutralize the batting order late in close games.

Financially, Duran aligns with the Friars’ payroll strategy. He is making only $3.75 million and will be under team control for another three seasons.

The crowded Red Sox outfield situation could provide the Padres an opportunity to add a productive, controllable player to the mix. However, it will come at a price, likely including valuable low-level prospects in a trade with Boston.

It may take until the end of June for a deal of this nature to occur. However, the clock is ticking for both organizations.