5 teams that could make sense for possible Jarren Duran trade

Boston Red Sox

Duran has been speculated to be a trade candidate for several months.

By Conor Roche

November 15, 2025 | 5:09 PM

5 minutes to read

The MLB offseason has arrived, and the Jarren Duran trade rumors are already in full swing.

The Red Sox are continuing to listen to trade offers for their star outfielder, The Athletic‘s Jim Bowden reported following this week’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas. Bowden also reported earlier in November that Duran was expected to get moved this offseason.

Rumors over Duran’s future in Boston have swirled over the last several months. Following Roman Anthony’s call-up in June, the Red Sox had a glut of outfielders, with it commonly being speculated that either Duran or Wilyer Abreu would get traded at some point.

Duran, 29, has three seasons of team control left and should have some value on the trade market. Following a top-10 AL MVP finish in 2024, Duran had another solid season in 2025, even if he saw his numbers dip. He hit .256 with .774 OPS, 16 home runs, and 84 RBIs in 157 games. He was also third in the American League in doubles (41), led the American League in triples (13) and had 24 stolen bases.

So, as a Duran trade seems to be a likely domino that will fall for the Red Sox this offseason, let’s take a look at five teams that make sense as possible suitors following the news rumors to come out of the GM Meetings.

Phillies

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters this week that his team is looking for some outfield help this season. As they’ve struggled to get over the hump over the last few postseasons, the two-time reigning NL East champs would certainly have an incentive to swing a trade for Duran if it comes to it.

There are a few things to consider about a potential pursuit for Duran from the Phillies, though. Philadelphia is among the handful of teams speculated to be in the sweepstakes for Kyle Tucker in free agency, so Boston might have to wait to make a deal if it really likes what Philadelphia could offer.

But that’s the other problem with a potential deal with the Phillies involving Duran. There aren’t many pieces on the Phillies’ big league roster that they’d either part with for Duran or make sense for the Red Sox beyond third baseman Alec Bohm. Even though Bohm could be a potential fit, he’s entering his final year of team control and there’s still the possibility that the Red Sox could re-sign Alex Bregman.

So, conventional wisdom would say that any trade with the Phillies landing Duran would likely involve prospects.

Royals

The Royals were evaluating the trade market for outfield help during the GM Meetings this past week, with the Red Sox possibly being a trade partner, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported earlier this week.

After a playoff appearance in 2024, Kansas City went 82-80 in 2025, but its three primary outfielders had a combined bWAR of minus-0.1. So, the outfield is certainly a weakness for a Royals team that should conceivably contend for a playoff spot with one of the game’s best players at shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr.

The Royals might have a couple of arms from their starting rotation that could make sense in a deal involving Duran. While ace Cole Ragans would presumably be off the table, 28-year-old Kris Bubic is entering his final season of team control. He posted a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts last season before a rotator cuff injury ended his 2025 campaign prematurely. The Royals are open to moving Bubic, The Athletic‘s Will Sammon recently reported.

Seth Lugo would also be an enticing option for the Red Sox if the Royals made him available. But the veteran righty signed a two-year extension during the 2025 season, so it might be tough for the Royals to rationalize trading Lugo shortly after that contract agreement.

Padres

Ever since Duran has been rumored to be a trade candidate, the Padres have seemed to be the team most linked to him. There were several reports that San Diego made offers to Boston for Duran ahead of the trade deadline in July.

During the trade deadline, the Padres had pitchers they could offer for Duran that would’ve made sense for the Red Sox to acquire. However, righties Dylan Cease, who was rumored to be a part of one of the Padres’ trade offers, and Michael King are now free agents. So, San Diego might have to get more creative with its possible offers for Duran.

If the Red Sox lose Bregman and opt to move Marcelo Mayer to third base this offseason, pursuing second baseman Jake Cronenworth could be worthwhile in a possible deal involving Duran. The veteran, who turns 32 in January, has position versatility and has consistently produced (.246 batting average, .744 OPS, 11 homers in 135 games last season) for the Padres since debuting in 2020. He’s also under team control through the end of the 2030 season.

San Diego also has a pretty loaded bullpen that Boston could opt to pick from in a possible Duran deal. However, the Padres’ prospect pool was hurt by the trade for reliever Mason Miller in July, with MLB.com and ESPN both ranking their farm system as the worst in baseball.

Dodgers

Why not make a trade with the Dodgers again?

Obviously, there was the infamous Mookie Betts deal in 2020. But the two teams have made a few other deals since then, although none have really worked out for the Red Sox.

Still, the Dodgers need some outfield help as Betts is now a full-time shortstop. Just like the Phillies, they’re also rumored to be among the favorites to land Tucker. So, any Duran-to-Los Angeles deal might have to wait until Tucker picks his new home.

And also similar to the Phillies, there aren’t many players on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster that would make sense to give up for Duran while also filling a need for the Red Sox. Second baseman Hyeseong Kim would be a positional fit, but would the Dodgers want to give up on the 26-year-old after his rookie season?

Los Angeles has one of the most talented prospect pools in baseball, though. The Dodgers’ farm system was ranked as the best farm system in baseball by MLB.com in July, while ESPN rated the group as the second-best.

White Sox

The White Sox were also among the teams that stated they’re looking for outfield help at the GM Meetings, with general manager Chris Getz specifying that they want to improve their corner outfield spots.

While the White Sox have been one of baseball’s worst teams over the last few years, they had a 19-win improvement in 2025 and seem to be on the upswing entering 2026. They had a handful of former top prospects make their MLB debuts in 2025, which is why they rank toward the middle in most prospect rankings now.

Because of that, there aren’t many players on the White Sox’ big league roster that seem like possible trade candidates in a potential deal for Duran. So, Boston might have to pick from Chicago’s prospect pool to get a hypothetical deal done, though the White Sox have five players ranked in MLB.com’s top 100 prospect list.

Of course, the Red Sox swung a major deal to land Garrett Crochet from the White Sox. So, there is a history between these two front offices already.