Philadelphia went out and acquired Harrison Bader from the Minnesota Twins during the 2025 season. He was a solid pickup who provided high-end defense and hit over .300 down the stretch for the Phillies. But now he’s a free agent and it’s unknown if he will be back.
If the Phillies are unable to get Bader back, then it would make sense to look to bring someone to town — through free agency or a trade. Boston.com’s Conor Roche floated an intriguing idea: Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox.
“Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters this week that his team is looking for some outfield help this season,” Roche wrote Saturday. “As they’ve struggled to get over the hump over the last few postseasons, the two-time reigning NL East champs would certainly have an incentive to swing a trade for Duran if it comes to it. There are a few things to consider about a potential pursuit for Duran from the Phillies, though. Philadelphia is among the handful of teams speculated to be in the sweepstakes for Kyle Tucker in free agency, so Boston might have to wait to make a deal if it really likes what Philadelphia could offer.
“But that’s the other problem with a potential deal with the Phillies involving Duran. There aren’t many pieces on the Phillies’ big league roster that they’d either part with for Duran or make sense for the Red Sox beyond third baseman Alec Bohm. Even though Bohm could be a potential fit, he’s entering his final year of team control and there’s still the possibility that the Red Sox could re-sign Alex Bregman.”
Duran is 29 years old and is a one-time All-Star and can do a bit of everything on the field. Rumors have swirled, insinuating that the Red Sox could be open for business. If so, the Phillies should call.
