Phillies trade idea would solve outfield problem with $123 million All-Star

The Philadelphia Phillies could be in the market for an outfielder as they try and win a tight race atop the National League East. The Boston Red Sox could have an All-Star available for the Phillies.

Nick Castellanos is the only outfielder on the Phillies with an OPS+ above 100. Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler and Johan Rojas are all players the Phillies could try and replace at the trade deadline. ESPN's Jeff Passan suggested the Phillies could be a fit for Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox.

"Duran had a huge breakout season in 2024, posting the seventh-best fWAR in the majors at 6.8," wrote Passan. "He overperformed his underlying metrics, though -- i.e., had some lucky outcomes -- and those metrics have regressed a bit this year. Now, he's underperforming them -- he has been unlucky -- so his true talent is somewhere south of that star-level figure but better than the roughly 2 WAR (commensurate with a solid regular) he's on pace for this season. With Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox have the outfield depth to consider moving Duran for controllable, top-end pitching."

Duran is under club control through 2028, but the Red Sox have a logjam in the outfield, and Duran may be the most likely to go. Roman Anthony is not going to be traded. Ceddanne Rafaela has already signed an extension and Wilyer Abreu is younger, a better defender and has more club control than Duran.

Duran may not be an All-Star like he was last year, but he is still an upgrade over the Phillies' current options. In fact, his .756 OPS would be third best on the Phillies, behind only Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.

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The Phillies would not want to give up Mick Abel or Andrew Painter for Duran, but the Red Sox would be looking for pitchers in any deal for the outfielder.

More MLB: Red Sox actively trying to cut ties with All-Star as deadline nears