If the New York Mets or Philadelphia Phillies want to deal the other a big blow in the NL East divisional race, they might have a trade to do the trick.
The Athletic has ranked Boston outfielder Jarren Duran as the No. 1 player potentially available at the trade deadline.
And two of the teams listed as good fits are the Mets and Phillies.
The big question here is likely whether the Red Sox would actually trade Duran, even amid team struggles.
"To be clear: There’s little reason for Boston to even entertain offers for Duran unless the return is substantial," The Athletic writes. "His production has predictably fallen short of his 2024 breakout, but Duran remains a solidly above-average hitter with lots of speed and the ability to play center field.
"Perhaps most importantly, he’s under team control through 2028, making him a player that teams can build around. Of course, even with a sudden influx of stud prospects joining the lineup, the Red Sox could continue to build around him, too. The Padres have already been linked to Duran and surely they won’t be alone."
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The Padres have also been linked to Duran and are listed as a fit here.
The Mets and Phillies both have substantial prospect pools and could land Duran if Boston really wants to move him.
His best fit defensively is in left field, but Duran's acquisition would center around his bat and speed as an offensive player. He could change the entire complexion of the last few months in the NL East if one of those contenders can manage to pull this deal off.
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