Is 2026 the year that Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran finally comes to San Diego?

In the past, it has been rumored that A.J. Preller has been aggressive in trying to pursue Duran. In 2025, he made a push to get the 29-year-old, but ultimately it did not happen. Instead, Preller would acquire Ramón Laureano, which would keep him under team control through 2026.

On June 2, it was announced that Ramón Laureano would be placed on the 10-day IL with right hip inflammation. It would later be announced that Laureano will likely miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Certainly a big blow for a team that thought it would have some stability in left field for the season. Coming up for Laureano would be Jase Bowen, a guy who impressed back in Spring Training, as well as in El Paso. Bowen has brought speed on the basepaths and great defensive ability, but we have not seen much with his bat to this point.

Speedy Samad Taylor is another guy who showed out in Spring Training and at the Triple-A level. Taylor just had a great series at home against the Reds, where he contributed in left field with five hits and five RBIs. Bowen and Taylor are surely some interesting candidates to monitor going forward, but I don’t believe general manager A.J. Preller has found his left fielder for the foreseeable future.

Why does it make sense?

This feels like the time that Preller could pull the trigger and acquire a player like Duran. As of June 11, Duran’s slashline is .210/.269/.383, good for an OPS+ of 84. Jarren Duran provides great defense in left field with a 93rd percentile of OAA with four, and is great on the bases with a 93rd percentile sprint speed. With all these numbers being career lows for Duran, along with the Red Sox being in last place of the A.L. East at 27-39, Red Sox G.M. Craig Breslow could be looking to collect some prospects for Duran. Duran is the oldest in a crowded outfield consisting of Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and rising star Roman Anthony.

AJ Preller has been “relentless” in the past, trying to acquire Duran and get him in a Padres uniform. 2024 would be Duran’s best year in Major League Baseball as he put up a 9.0 bWAR, hitting 48 doubles and stealing 34 bases. Duran slashed .285/.342/.492 in a year where he would win All-Star Game MVP, as well as be named to the All-MLB Second Team.

2026 has been a down year for Duran as his strikeout % has increased 5.2% from 2025. Swing and miss has always been a part of his game, but in 2026, it is at an all-time high. The whiff rate was at 29.3% a year ago, and now it is at 35.6% a year later. The hard-hit rate is also down in 2026. Duran’s hard-hit rate was 46.8% in 2025, and in 2026 it dropped to 40.0%. His strikeout ability, paired with his inability to hit the ball hard, has put a major damper on his offense.

This could be a nice opportunity for Duran and the Padres. Perhaps Preller could acquire him for a lower price than it would’ve cost in the past and give Duran a much-needed change of scenery.

What would it take?

San Diego may have to be creative with the Red Sox if it means Jarren Duran becomes a Padre. Duran is under team control for two more seasons after the 2026 season.

General manager A.J. Preller and assistant general manager Josh Stein’s farm system is surely not what it has been in the past. The breakout of catcher Ethan Salas has been a fun player to monitor, but San Diego should want to keep him as a Padre with the Major League catching concerns.

Recently drafted southpaws, Kash Mayfield and Kruz Schoolcraft, are some pitchers with definite upside. Although they have promising futures, they are a few years out from being up in the Major Leagues.

Maybe Boston could want some talent out of the superpen. Bradgley Rodriguez and Jeremiah Estrada are some of the Padres’ back-end guys who have some bright years ahead of them, as well as lots of team control.

All things considered

Jarren Duran could fit this mold of the San Diego Padres and their window to win now. In a position of left field that has major question marks, Duran could be the guy to man the position come early August. A player who has shown true superstar talent just a few seasons ago could be a nice pickup for Preller and the Padres.

Duran is a real buy-low candidate with San Diego looking to make the postseason for a third consecutive season. Expect San Diego to be in the market for a left fielder, specifically Jarren Duran, at the 2026 trade deadline.

Angel Flores

Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a third year community college student, and will transfer to SDSU to pursue a career in Journalism.