Former MLB GM Proposes Insane Three-Team Trade Involving Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran

Former MLB GM Proposes Insane Three-Team Trade Involving Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Boston Red Sox shocked the world once already this season when they shipped three-time All-Star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. The deal laid the groundwork for their recent ascension up the American League Wild Card standings and revitalized a seemingly dead season. The Devers trade also sent a flurry around the league, wondering what the Red Sox would do next at the trade deadline. Could another blockbuster be in the works?

Jim Bowden of The Athletic certainly thinks so, as Boston flirts with the idea of trading outfielder Jarren Duran. The team has yet to fully commit to the proposition, as it may be more complicated than initially thought.

The San Diego Padres have been the most aggressive in their efforts to pry Duran away from Boston, but do not possess the right mix of prospects and controllable win-now pitchers to convince chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to strike a deal. This is where Bowden gets creative.

The former Nationals’ GM proposes a three-team trade involving the Red Sox, Padres, and Miami Marlins. The Padres would receive the former All-Star Duran and solidify their long-term needs in the outfield. The Marlins would acquire prospects from both Boston and San Diego to further cement a brighter future. Meanwhile, the Red Sox acquire starting pitcher Edward Cabrera from Miami.

Surprisingly, Bowden’s proposal does fulfil each organization’s deadline needs. Duran slots in left field for San Diego as a cheaper and controllable offensive piece, and Boston gets the higher-upside Cabrera to anchor and likely unseat Walker Buehler in their starting rotation.

At the beginning of the season, trading away Duran felt like a clickbait idea. However, with the emergence of Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and the need for top prospect Roman Anthony to play every day, dealing Duran feels inevitable.

If Boston were to acquire Cabrera, they would have three more years of club control before he reaches the age of 31. The right-hander has been a steady force in the Marlins' rotation this season with a 3.61 ERA and 86 strikeouts across 82.1 innings. He may not be ace, but as Boston attempts to toe the line of contender and build for the future, Cabrera fits nicely in both plans.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.