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The Kansas City Royals still want to add an outfielder even after signing Lane Thomas and trading for Isaac Collins. And it appears Jarren Duran remains a target.
But the Red Sox need to lower their asking price.
“The Royals are under the impression Duran would cost them left-hander Cole Ragans, though the Red Sox view the initial talks as more informal and exploratory, according to people briefed on the conversations,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported on Monday.
Ragans is under team control through 2028 and was an All-Star in 2024. The 28-year-old lefty dealt with a rotator cuff strain last season, but struck out 38.1% of the batters he faced.
Duran’s name has been in trade talks before the offseason began. He dealt with rumors during the 2025 trade deadline, but ultimately stayed put. Now his name emerged again as a possible candidate to be traded this offseason.
ESPN’s Jeff Pasan reported in November that Boston will “almost surely” trade Duran or Wilyer Abreu — who’s coming off his second straight Gold Glove.
The Red Sox have a crowded outfield with Duran, Abreu, Ceddanne Rafalea and Roman Anthony. Despite having four players for three outfield positions, The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey reported that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is “comfortable keeping it that way into next season unless a team convinces him not to.”