How aggressive will the Cincinnati Reds be at this year’s MLB trade deadline? That’s the big question President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall will need to answer in the coming weeks. If the Reds are willing to take a bold swing before the July 31 deadline, Jarren Duran should be high on their radar.
Duran, 28, is a player with All-Star potential and several years of team control remaining. This season, the Boston Red Sox outfielder is slashing .258/.318/.431 with eight home runs, 50 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and a 107 OPS+.
While Duran is capable of playing center field, he’s been primarily used in left this season with Ceddanne Rafaela handling duties in center. With Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and top prospect Roman Anthony in the fold, Duran could be expendable—but Boston won’t part with him for cheap. The real question is: what would the Reds have to give up to land him?
Reds’ trade package for Red Sox star Jarren Duran would likely cost a frontline starter like Nick Lodolo
The Red Sox are in dire need of starting pitching—something the Reds have in abundance. If Cincinnati deems All-Star lefty Andrew Abbott and rookie flamethrower Chase Burns untouchable in trade talks, that brings pitchers like Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Petty into focus.
However, Greene and Lowder are currently sidelined with injuries, and Petty has struggled with consistency since his MLB debut earlier this year. That makes Lodolo the most likely centerpiece in any potential deal for Jarren Duran.
While Lodolo has battled injuries throughout his career, he’s been remarkably durable in 2025. Following his latest start against the Mets, Lodolo is just under two innings shy of a new personal best in innings pitched, posting an impressive 3.33 ERA and leading the Reds with 20 starts. He’s also logged six or more innings in a dozen outings this season.
This is the kind of tough decision the Reds would face if they truly want Duran. There are other outfield options expected to be available before the trade deadline, but Duran could be the most prominent name on the move. The real question is whether Cincinnati is ready to part with a top starter—who’s under team control for two more years—to land the impact outfield bat they need. That’s the likely price of doing business with Boston.
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