The Red Sox only find themselves four games out of a playoff spot, yet everyone seems to be writing their eulogy as if they are dead. It seems like the funeral arrangements are being made and the team isn’t eliminated yet. I guess that’s what happens when you fall short of expectations. Despite the moves that were made, the Red Sox went from playoff contenders, to it’s a development year in short order. With that being said, they have alot of enticing names that could be on the block.

Notably, you have pitchers such as Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito, and Aroldis Chapman, who has been one of the best closers in baseball all season long. But two new names have come up and that’s Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu.

Do the Red Sox Really Move one of the Two?

All roads lead back to Roman Anthony. If the Royals can call up Jac Caglianone and find a spot for him given how inept they’ve been offensively, the Red Sox could do the exact same thing. But how? Well it seems like trading an outfielder to make room for another is the move.

Jeff Passan from ESPN mentioned that he’s heard from other managers that the Red Sox could entertain trading away Duran or Abreu. If they are out of it and the writing is on the wall then there is a world where they can. If they are doing that just to make Anthony fit, then that’s silly because you can keep both while also adding Anthony to the roster.

Trading Abreu doesn’t make sense to me. Abreu is an elite defender in right field and plays the right field position very well inside Fenway Park. Abreu has his ups and downs, but when he is on he is a machine at the plate. Abreu has seen his average sit at .246, but his OPS has risen to .809. He is definitely a young building block and was a massive win in that Christian Vazquez trade. Also, who are you plopping there that can provide you the same value. Sure, Abreu has team control, which is enticing to others and is young, so the sky is the limit, but trading him makes no sense long term for the Red Sox unless that return is astronomical.

That leads us to Duran.

Of all the outfielders, you’d think that Ceddanne Rafaela could be the odd man out. He’s certainly the weaker of the group when it comes to his hitting, but he’s arguably the best defensive center fielder in the sport. He’s under a very team friendly contract and basically is this eras Jackie Bradley Jr. That actually doesn’t sound so bad does it?

But the Red Sox haven’t begun to lock up Duran long term. If they are to lean into the youth movement, Duran also makes sense in that regard with him being the oldest of the bunch. Duran plays left field and that’s exactly where Anthony will slot. For everyone wondering who will be the lead off hitter in a world where there is no Duran; it’s also Anthony.

Duran does have enormous value. He is a massive weapon on the basepaths and can turn a single into a triple depending how far that ball went. He can truly do it all, from hitting home runs and stealing bases. Yeah, it’s been a slight regression this season, as he is only hitting .271 with a .734 OPS, but this is a guy who put together an MVP campaign last season.

Duran showed what he is capable of last season. He hit .285 with a .834 OPS and put together a 6.7 wins above replacement season. He legitimately is the engine helps the Red Sox run. If he goes everyone else follows in behind him. He’s just a weapon and valuable.

So do I think that the Red Sox trade Duran? Sure, you are definitely having those conversations. Do I think it will be during the season? Only if they are truly out of the mix. Because if you are trying to contend and get into the playoffs, trading one of your most reliable bats doesn’t get you there.

Also, if the return for Duran or even Abreu isn’t feasible or good enough, you hang up the phone. You don’t make the deal just to make Anthony a spot. You make that deal because it makes your baseball team better based on the return you get for the caliber of player he is.

The Red Sox really might be the most intriguing team in the month of June to monitor. Get the popcorn ready.