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The San Diego Padres are still searching for consistency in left field after Jurickson Profar’s suspension.
They thought they had a potential solution in Gavin Sheets, but that plan was thwarted when he injured himself against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Now, former general manager Jim Bowden is the latest to link Red Sox outcast Jarren Duran to the Padres.
“The Padres have been trying to mix and match in left field since Jurickson Profar departed in free agency to the Braves,” wrote Bowden. “They would like to find a longer-term solution. Enter Duran, who last season led the AL in doubles and triples while hitting 21 homers and stealing 34 bases. He got off to a slow start this year but is batting .271 with 18 doubles, seven triples, four homers and 13 steals.”
This link comes just a week after Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported the Padres were targeting Duran. Bowden believes Duran will start to see less time in the outfield for the Red Sox after Roman Anthony was officially called up on Monday.
“The Red Sox have his replacement, Roman Anthony, the best prospect in baseball, ready to step in,” wrote Bowden. “However, Boston needs starting pitching help in return, and the Padres really don’t have that to offer. They could dangle their top prospects, but I’m not sure Boston would bite on that type of offer for Duran, who is under team control through 2028.”
The length of Duran’s contract and the lack of pitching in the Padres’ farm system complicates the deal, but there have been rumors about San Diego potentially moving on from starter Dylan Cease. He could be a player the Red Sox ask for in return.
A.J. Preller has done crazier things as the Padres general manager. If he believes Duran helps the club more than Cease or any player the Red Sox ask for, he will certainly pull the trigger to get the deal finalized.
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