The San Diego Padres are actively seeking help in left field — and rightfully so. According to MLB Trade Rumors, no team has received worse production from that position this season, with Padres left fielders combining for a disappointing -0.7 bWAR through the first 50 games.
Although the MLB trade deadline is still over two months away, San Diego is already pursuing potential upgrades to remain competitive in the tight three-team National League West race. Currently, the Padres are two games behind the Dodgers and one behind the Giants.
One potential trade partner could be the Boston Red Sox, who have an opportunity to fill a need of their own while helping the Padres. Boston recently promoted Marcelo Mayer, their No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall, and already had fellow top prospect Kristian Campbell on the roster. That leaves just one top-tier prospect remaining in Triple-A: Roman Anthony.
Anthony, 21, is not only Boston’s top prospect but the highest-ranked in all of baseball. Dominating Triple-A with a .971 OPS and a .321 average — both league bests among qualified hitters — he seems ready for the majors. However, with Boston’s outfield already full, the team may look to create space.
Trading left fielder Jarren Duran, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP, to San Diego could do just that. Duran is an appealing target: he’s on an affordable $3.75 million deal, under team control through 2028, and comes with a 2026 club option.
Why would Boston trade him? Duran isn’t quite matching his breakout 2024 performance. His OPS has dropped from .834 to .762, and he’s on pace for only 12 homers compared to last year’s 21. Defensively, he had 17 defensive runs saved (DRS) in center field last season, but only one so far in left this year. He still leads the AL in triples, though, and despite some regression, he’d represent a significant upgrade over what the Padres currently have.
At nearly 29 years old, Duran’s future ceiling isn’t as high as Anthony’s. But for the Padres, he’s a much-needed immediate improvement in their push for a division title.
Meanwhile, Boston still needs a first baseman after losing Triston Casas to a season-ending injury on May 2. San Diego’s Gavin Sheets, a versatile player with nearly 100 MLB games at first base, could be a valuable return piece in a broader deal involving Duran.
The Red Sox may also seek prospects in any potential package. One name to watch is Triple-A right-hander Francis Pena, who’s struck out 22 batters in 18 1/3 innings for El Paso. While he has command issues, he could offer bullpen reinforcements for Boston’s overworked relief corps.