Article: 4 Teams That Could Trade For Jarren Duran Or Wilyer Abreu

[Alex Mayes]

With Roman Anthony now (finally) on the major league roster, there are questions surrounding the future of the outfield. It’s unlikely that Anthony has been called up just to be sent back down once Wilyer Abreu comes back from the injured list. He has nothing else to prove at Triple-A Worcester and deserves to be playing for the big league club. As I wrote on the day Anthony made his debut, there’s going to be some difficult roster decisions coming in the next few weeks. That likely means that either Jarren Duran or Abreu will be moved in a trade at some point in the near future. Abreu was surrounded by trade rumors all offseason, and teams like the Padres are already inquiring about Duran. The Red Sox are fortunate to have depth in the outfield and should be able to capitalize on that as we begin to approach the trade deadline. Let’s take a look at four different teams that make sense as suitors for either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu. 

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners need a spark. They are sitting at .500 as of this writing and are second in the AL West after recently being passed by the Houston Astros. They have the face of their franchise, Julio Rodriguez, manning center field but both of their corner outfield positions could use an upgrade. Randy Arozarena has been lackluster so far in 2025, slashing.232/.346/.401. He’s also a liability in left field, which would be the perfect chance for Duran to come in and add some stability.

The big upgrade possibility in Seattle, though, is right field. Both Duran and Abreu could slot into right field for the Mariners the day of the trade and be an instant upgrade over anyone else they’ve trotted out to that position so far this season. Luke Raley leads the team in games played in right, but he's currently hurt and rocking below-average defensive metrics. The Mariners lack a true right fielder, so trading for either Duran or Abreu, but likely Abreu, makes a lot of sense. While Jerry Dipoto hasn’t been known to overpay, the AL West is fairly weak this season, and adding someone like Abreu could do wonders for a team scratching at the division title.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals are a team that should be competing for the AL Central title due to their pitching staff and Bobby Witt Jr., but the team kind of peters out after him. They’ve called up Jac Caglianone to try and help give the team some more firepower, but left field is still a glaring issue for the team. With Caglianone slated for right field and Kyle Isbel playing a respectable center, upgrading the final corner outfield spot with the likes of Jarren Duran seems like a deal the front office in Kansas City would be chomping at the bit to do. Duran is a better offensive player than current starter Drew Waters. On defense, Waters is currently posting a -0.4 DWAR, while Duran is just a tick above average at 0.1. That doesn’t seem like a huge upgrade, but as we’ve seen since Duran went on his tear in 2024, he can provide a spark necessary to push a team to where it needs to go. Duran would slot in as an instant leader in the clubhouse in Kansas City, and the move would take off some of the pressure the Boston media market puts on players, which could help him unlock a new level of his game. 

Philadelphia Phillies

This is relative, but the Phillies are underperforming right now, thanks in large part to an injury bug that has bitten some of their superstar players. They’ve gone on a downhill slide the last couple of weeks and need a shot in the arm to get them back in the race with the NL East-leading Mets. Their outfield could stand for a huge upgrade in right field. Currently, Nick Castellanos mans right for the Phillies, and that’s a fairly big problem for them. He’s sitting at a -1.2 DWAR, and his slash line is fairly similar to Duran’s: .271/.326/.420 for Duran and .287/.327/.425 for Castellanos. Abreu’s batting line is worse than Duran’s, but he slides right into his natural position as a huge defensive upgrade. If the Phillies didn't want to displace Castellanos' bat from their lineup, they could easily look for an upgrade over Max Kepler in left field. Either way, both players would immediately slot into as starting role in Philly and be a legit addition for a team that is pushing to go back to another World Series.

St. Louis Cardinals

While they are not the most conventional pick here, I think the Cardinals and Red Sox stack up well for a deal to send either Duran or Abreu to the Gateway City. Lars Nootbaar is getting closer and closer to free agency (2027), and Jordan Walker seems like he’s a shell of himself in right field after being moved around the field and shuttled between Triple-A and the majors last season. I’ve pitched Walker as a reclamation project for the Red Sox before, because I think a simple change of scenery will do him wonders.

With his underperformance and Nootbaar's uncertain long-term status, there’s a couple of holes opening up in the Redbirds’ outfield (though Alec Burlson's emergence could fill one of those gaps). Enter Boston. There’s already a relationship between front offices after Craig Breslow brought in Tyler O’Neill before the 2024 season, so we know that there’s at least some lines of communication open there. Both Duran and Abreu would be immediate upgrades over Walker in right field or either of them could slot into left field and let Nootbaar shift to right. Busch Stadium is a very pitcher-friendly park, so both Duran and Abreu would be able to flash the leather and likely put their name back into contention for the Gold Glove award.

There are other teams that also make a bit of sense for either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, but they don’t match up quite like the four teams here. Each team has the mix of MLB talent and upper-level prospects to make a deal for younger, controllable pieces like Boston's outfield tandem. Even if the Red Sox light the world on fire between now and the trade deadline, someone in that outfield logjam is going to have to be traded, because it’s simply not possible for a team to play so many bodies in just three positions. Could the front office shock us all and trade someone like Rob Refsnyder instead? Sure, but the return would be minimal compared to what Duran or Abreu could bring back.

It's never easy to let go of homegrown players, but when someone like Roman Anthony is making his case for playing time, you accommodate him first, and figure out the rest later.

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[notin]

Dodgers?  Conforto can’t hit anything.  If he fell off a cliff, he wouldn’t hit the ground…

[Bellhorn04]

In all the excitement, Roman has 1 hit in 3 games, an OPS of .321 and a bWAR of -0.2.  Which is obviously in a miniscule sample, but it's also a reminder that baseball is hard, and the Sox might be wise to keep their options open a while yet. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

23 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

In all the excitement, Roman has 1 hit in 3 games, an OPS of .321 and a bWAR of -0.2.  Which is obviously in a miniscule sample, but it's also a reminder that baseball is hard, and the Sox might be wise to keep their options open a while yet. 

If the sox are going to be sellers, does it really matter what roman or any other replacement does? I wouldn't think so.

At that point it's all about maximizing return.

[notin]

55 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

In all the excitement, Roman has 1 hit in 3 games, an OPS of .321 and a bWAR of -0.2.  Which is obviously in a miniscule sample, but it's also a reminder that baseball is hard, and the Sox might be wise to keep their options open. 

I wouldn’t imagine any deals will happen for at least 4 weeks, if at all…

[Bellhorn04]

35 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

If the sox are going to be sellers, does it really matter what roman or any other replacement does? I wouldn't think so.

At that point it's all about maximizing return.

The Sox aren't sellers yet.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

The Sox aren't sellers yet.

Hence the reason I said "if".................

[Larry Cook]

I think the plan is for Devers to go on the DL when abreau comes back!!!  
 

so bres-slow gets to kick the can down the road until early July. By then either Anthony and Mayer are hitting or they return to Worcester when Bregman and Devers come back!!  

[harmony]

Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu are not the answers to the most pressing needs for the slumping Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners rank 12th in the American League with an ERA+ of 91 and third in the league with an OPS+ of 109 (one point behind the Red Sox).

This year Randy Arozarena has posted 1.3 WAR and a 119 wRC+ in 65 games.

Jarren Duran has posted 1.3 WAR and a 106 wRC+ in 69 games while Wilyer Abreu has posted a 1.2 WAR and a 112 wRC+ in 64 games.

FanGraphs projects Arozarena with 1.5 WAR and 117 wRC+ in 89 games the remainder of the season. Duran is projected with 1.6 WAR and 107 wRC+ in 83 games and Abreu with 1.0 WAR and 107 wRC+ in 56 games.

Right field remains an issue for Seattle with its injured list housing Victor Robles and Luke Raley, who last year posted 3.1 and 3.2 bWAR for the Mariners. Robles is looking at a September return at the earliest but Raley may begin a rehab assignment soon.

Seattle is unlikely to trade from Keith Law's top-ranked farm system to acquire Duran or Abreu.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/randy-arozarena/19290/stats?position=OF

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jarren-duran/24617/stats?position=OF

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/wilyer-abreu/23772/stats?position=OF

 

 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

In all the excitement, Roman has 1 hit in 3 games, an OPS of .321 and a bWAR of -0.2.  Which is obviously in a miniscule sample, but it's also a reminder that baseball is hard, and the Sox might be wise to keep their options open a while yet. 

C'mon man... Don't embarrass yourself this early in the morning. 

[mvp 78]

Of the 4 teams listed, PHI would be the best fit for Duran's game. He'd be great in that town and would hit a bunch more HR too. He was also drafted by the DD regime. 

[notin]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Of the 4 teams listed, PHI would be the best fit for Duran's game. He'd be great in that town and would hit a bunch more HR too. He was also drafted by the DD regime. 

You did read my posts this off-season.

Add to their reasons, Philly might be learning there’s a good chance Brandon Marsh isn’t very good…

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

You did read my posts this off-season.

Add to their reasons, Philly might be learning there’s a good chance Brandon Marsh isn’t very good…

I'm cursed to read every post. I just don't remember all of them. 

If Marsh didn't have all that hair, nobody would know who he is. 

[Nick]

I know it's too early but when Bregman comes back, I rather see Mayer play 2B than Campbell. Obviously Mayer I think would be better defender than Campbell who can play in the outfield.

I would also live with Anthony. He'll have a hot streak and raise his OPS say in a week. 

For now, C-Narvaez, 1B-Toro, 2B-Mayer, SS-Story, 3B-Bregman, LF-Duran, CF-Rafaela, RF-Anthony, DH-Devers. Then you'll have Refs, Gonzalez, Campbell/Hamilton if Campbell revers to May numbers. This lineup should work.  

I also would hate to give up on Abreu, because I do think Refsnyder is close to retiring. Just my opinion. I think he wants get into coaching.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Nick said:

I know it's too early but when Bregman comes back, I rather see Mayer play 2B than Campbell. Obviously Mayer I think would be better defender than Campbell who can play in the outfield.

I would also live with Anthony. He'll have a hot streak and raise his OPS say in a week. 

For now, C-Narvaez, 1B-Toro, 2B-Mayer, SS-Story, 3B-Bregman, LF-Duran, CF-Rafaela, RF-Anthony, DH-Devers. Then you'll have Refs, Gonzalez, Campbell/Hamilton if Campbell revers to May numbers. This lineup should work.  

I also would hate to give up on Abreu, because I do think Refsnyder is close to retiring. Just my opinion. I think he wants get into coaching.

I'd move Story to 2b and Marcelo to SS. Story's defense hasn't been good enough this year. It's time to just rip the band-aid off. 

[notin]

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm cursed to read every post. I just don't remember all of them. 

If Marsh didn't have all that hair, nobody would know who he is. 

The shaggy look hurts him because all you hear in the stands is “Jayson Werth needs a shower.”

[notin]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

I'd move Story to 2b and Marcelo to SS. Story's defense hasn't been good enough this year. It's time to just rip the band-aid off. 

Campbell to Worcester?

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

The shaggy look hurts him because all you hear in the stands is “Jayson Werth needs a shower.”

That's what happens when you smell like a wet dog out there. 

I do like the Jason Werth TikTok of him showing up to a men's league softball game and just hitting a pitch to the moon. It reminds me of playing in a work league in LA that had Canseco in it. Not sure what fake job he had. 😑

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Campbell to Worcester?

Cora will find a way to play him 4 times a week 2b/Cf/Lf/1b wherever. He becomes a bad glove UTIL. 

[notin]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cora will find a way to play him 4 times a week 2b/Cf/Lf/1b wherever. He becomes a bad glove UTIL. 

I’d rather bench Story or include him in the Duran package…

[notin]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That's what happens when you smell like a wet dog out there. 

I do like the Jason Werth TikTok of him showing up to a men's league softball game and just hitting a pitch to the moon. It reminds me of playing in a work league in LA that had Canseco in it. Not sure what fake job he had. 😑

Distribution for a pharmaceutical company?

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

C'mon man... Don't embarrass yourself this early in the morning. 

I stand by what I said.  If the goal is to make the playoffs this year, there are good reasons not to be in a hurry to trade Duran or Abreu.  We're all excited by Anthony's potential, but like all the kids he still has a way to go to prove himself.

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Of the 4 teams listed, PHI would be the best fit for Duran's game. He'd be great in that town and would hit a bunch more HR too. He was also drafted by the DD regime. 

The Bleacher Report (slogan: More accurate than The Onion!) suggests Philly would deal Andrew Painter for Duran.  While BTV gives Duran the higher surplus value, I don’t see Philly doing it.  Maybe Mick Abel, but not Painter..

[notin]

10 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I stand by what I said.  There are good reasons not to be in a hurry to trade Duran or Abreu.  We're all excited by Anthony's potential, but like all the kids he still has a way to go to prove himself.

I don’t think any deal of Duran or Abreu is even possible until Abreu returns from the IL…

[Bellhorn04]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

I don’t think any deal of Duran or Abreu is even possible until Abreu returns from the IL…

I agree, but it's beside the point.  I agree with your earlier point about it possibly happening at the deadline. 

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, notin said:

I’d rather bench Story or include him in the Duran package…

I'd rather DFA Story and not ruin the return on a Duran package! I'm not the one running the team and don't think that scenario is realistic under Henry though. 

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, notin said:

Distribution for a pharmaceutical company?

I don't remember. It was 15+ years ago. 

[mvp 78]

22 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I stand by what I said.  If the goal is to make the playoffs this year, there are good reasons not to be in a hurry to trade Duran or Abreu.  We're all excited by Anthony's potential, but like all the kids he still has a way to go to prove himself.

It's the goal, but at some point they also have to be realistic about the goal. 

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, notin said:

The Bleacher Report (slogan: More accurate than The Onion!) suggests Philly would deal Andrew Painter for Duran.  While BTV gives Duran the higher surplus value, I don’t see Philly doing it.  Maybe Mick Abel, but not Painter..

Painter for Duran? Breslow would jump at that so fast. 

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

I don’t think any deal of Duran or Abreu is even possible until Abreu returns from the IL…

Not if Bres was offered Painter.