Will the Boston Red Sox make some notable changes to their roster with just over a week to go until pitchers and catchers report to spring training?
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is expected to be active in the free-agent market -- though expectations should be measured -- and they reportedly also could make some notable trades before finalizing their roster.
The long-rumored and most likely trade candidate is closer Kenley Jansen but another more shocking name has come up in recent trade talks.
"I've even heard that the name Jarren Duran has come up in trade rumors," the New York Post's Jon Heyman said on a Bleacher Report livestream Tuesday afternoon. "Now I'm not saying they are shopping Duran and they certainly won't admit it if they are but they have big-time prospects including Roman Anthony and many others are down on the farm who could replace him potentially."
Duran hit .295 with 44 extra-base hits including eight home runs, 40 RBIs and a .828 OPS (121 OPS+) in 102 games before suffering a season-ending toe injury last season. He also stole 24 bases in 26 attempts and improved dramatically defensively from a year ago.
The 27-year-old is coming off a breakout campaign and has five more seasons of team control before reaching free agency.
With the entire franchise's focus seemingly on the future, it makes little sense to trade a young, controllable asset who appears to be on the brink of becoming a core player.
The move would have to be for a significant player who is going to help the Red Sox in the present and the future as Duran will if he sustains anything close to his 2023 production.
Duran deserves a shot to establish himself as a starting centerfielder for the Red Sox before being shipped off in a sell-high move.
More must-reads: