As we dive into the trade landscape of Major League Baseball, all eyes are once again on San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller. True to form, Preller seems to have identified one of his top targets: Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. This raises an interesting question for Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall: could he make a bold move and outmaneuver Preller to secure Duran’s talents?
For the Reds, making it to the postseason is becoming increasingly crucial, and it’s clear that to achieve this goal, they need a reliable source of offense. Right now, TJ Friedl stands out as Cincinnati’s most dependable hitter. Meanwhile, while Elly De La Cruz hasn’t quite lived up to sky-high expectations, glimpses of his elite potential have emerged at times this season.
However, it’s hard to ignore that the rest of the lineup has been rather lackluster. With Spencer Steer’s struggles to find his groove, Austin Hays dealing with injury issues, and Matt McLain experiencing a significant slump, Reds manager Terry Francona is exploring options that could energize this offense. This brings us back to what could potentially be a solution waiting in left field at Fenway Park.
Duran might have his own set of challenges, but there’s no denying his on-field performance has been impressive. Emerging in the AL MVP conversation last season and earning an All-Star nod, Duran finished with a robust .285/.342/.492 slash line, leading the league in both doubles and triples while boasting a 131 OPS+. This year, he’s posting a .273/.318/.424 line and continues to shine with six triples—an accomplishment partially due to the friendly confines of Fenway Park.
Digging deeper into his metrics, Duran ranks in the 75th percentile or higher in key areas like average exit velocity, hard hit rate, and bat speed, making him a coveted asset. There’s only one player on the Reds’ roster currently matching those tiers, and that’s De La Cruz.
With McLain’s and Steer’s recent struggles, paired with Friedl’s efforts, the Reds are in desperate need of a game-changing bat. Duran should certainly be on their radar. What makes him an intriguing target is not just his talent but also his contract situation—he’s set to earn just $3.8 million this season with a team option for 2026, keeping him under control until after 2028.
Acquiring Duran won’t be a walk in the park, but considering the goals Krall set out when bringing in Francona—to win now—this is precisely the type of strategic move that could elevate the Reds’ competitiveness this summer. If the Reds want to make a splash and shift their postseason trajectory, trading for a player of Duran’s caliber could be the pivotal decision they need to make.
