MLB Insider: “The Red Sox Are In Fact Fielding Trade Offers”

The Boston Red Sox are still fielding offers on All-Star closer Kenley Jansen. But, he is not the only player whose name is on floating around on the trade market. Boston has a deep stash of outfield prospects, which has teams inquiring about Jarren Duran. Will the Red Sox trade one of their players before spring training begins?

Red Sox Trade Rumors

Kenley Jansen

“The Red Sox could fit this description, too, but only they’re able to clear payroll by moving Jansen’s contract,.” MLB.com’s Jon Morosi has put Jansen in trade talk discussions.

“This is a very interesting story in the days before Spring Training opens for the Red Sox, basically a week from right now, is that Kenley Jansen reportedly is available. And I checked around in the industry in the last couple days to try to figure out just how real this story is and I was told the Red Sox are, in fact, listening on Jansen. But there has to be a second part of this. If you trade him, it’s not just to trade him. It’s because either A, Craig Breslow trying to bring in multiples of pitching back to replenish the depth of the Red Sox or that by clearing some of Jansen’s salary, that they could potentially free up enough money to then make a play for one of the available free agents.”

Jansen has been in trade rumors since last season when the Red Sox were struggling and considered potential sellers at the trade deadline. Instead, Boston held on to the closer, however, as they finished last in the American League East at 78-84. The 36-year-old signed a two-year, $32 million deal with the Red Sox last offseason. He is due $16 million in 2024. Jansen played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2010 to 2021, then the Atlanta Braves in 2022. In his 14-year career, Jansen is 45-43 with a 2.52 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings, 20.5 WAR and 420 saves.

Jarren Duran

According to the New York Post, the San Diego Padres have interest in Duran. Boston is getting calls about several outfielders who aren’t Duran. Right now, the Red Sox have Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Tyler O’Neill, Ceddane Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida. There’s enough depth to trade from, if they desire so. Duran, 27, had a strong 2023 campaign. The only lock in the Padres outfield is Fernando Tatis Jr. José Azocar is the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster. Bryce Johnson, Óscar Mercado and Cal Mitchell are on the non-40-man roster. They are in line to compete for outfield jobs in spring training.

The 27-year-old is under contract for five more seasons before reaching free agency. He appears to be on the brink of making a name for himself in Boston’s budding core.