by ANALYSIS
Over the past week, Jarren Duran has made all the correct statements.
Tuesday’s effort was one of the Red Sox outfielder’s better ones in what has been a mixed season. The triumph featured two runs scored by the quick-footed Duran, who set a record for the farthest home run by a Sox batter in 2025 with a 456-foot solo in the seventh inning.
It is 10pic thanks to Jarren.Follow V3rlqiniKm on Twitter.
With a three-run homer in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 10-2 victory over Colorado, he was back to his best.
However, despite his achievements, Duran’s future position in Boston’s roster is far from assured.
Following a career season in which he played in 160 of Boston’s 161 games, Duran has already missed three games in 2025, including Monday’s series opener against Colorado.
Alex Cora and the Red Sox have not taken any punitive action.
Instead, it’s the fact that the Red Sox have a lot of skill in the outfield and only a limited number of positions available to insert those players into the order.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Duran stated on Tuesday that “Alex Cora has a plan and I trust him full tilt.”I will do everything he asks me to do. I came in and pinch-hit after he gave me a brief period of [Monday] off, and everything worked out. I trust him with anything we need to do for the team since he is a fantastic manager and has been doing it for a while.
On Wednesday, Boston’s prolonged roster stalemate reached a crucial turning point.
The DH position that Cora has been using to cycle guys through this congested outfield is probably no longer practical now that Masataka Yoshida has returned to the lineup (getting three hits versus Colorado) and is anticipated to receive the majority of reps at DH against righties going forward.
Talk about the difficulties in making sure Boston consistently fields the best lineup every night was dismissed by Cora on Tuesday.
It’s not hard. Cora stated, “It’s good to have a lot of good players on the same roster,” according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.We’ll be able to give some players a break and play games later with people that play every day rather than just on specific days. And I believe that will be advantageous to us.
Now that Yoshida is allowed to play, the Red Sox are doomed to sit out at least one dynamic player on most nights, despite Cora’s confident proclamation.
With the No. 1 prospect in baseball currently batting.383 with six extra-base hits and seven RBI over his previous 11 games, the Red Sox have made a determined effort to secure consistent reps for rookie Roman Anthony going forward.
Since entering the major leagues, Anthony has mostly played in right field. However, on Wednesday, he got his first start in left field at Fenway Park, replacing Duran, who had occupied that position since 2025.
On Wednesday’s WEEI Afternoons, Cora remarked of Anthony, “This kid is becoming a force for us.”In his first major league start, I was also kind of dumb pinch hitting [for] him. That is no longer what we do. He is now playing good defense in right field and batting second and third.
He’s going to play left field tonight. And we continue to challenge him. He plays a significant role in our current and future goals. And we’re thrilled with the development.
After a sluggish start, Ceddanne Rafaela is solidifying his place as Boston’s regular center fielder.
With his outstanding defense, the 24-year-old already provides Boston with a lot of value, but he has also turned around and is becoming a powerful hitter.321 with 22 runs scored, 10 home runs, and 22 RBIs in his last 36 games.
Wilyer Abreu, who won a Gold Glove in right field the previous season and is leading AL right fielders in 2025 with four outs above average, will now compete with Duran for a position in right field.
The 26-year-old outfielder, who will not be eligible for free agency until 2029, is a solid performer at the plate in addition to his own defensive prowess in right. He has 18 home runs and 52 RBI in 80 games.
For Boston, something has to give.
Rafaela was the odd man out of Boston’s lineup on Wednesday, removing a Gold-Glove talent out of center field and depriving the team of what may have been its best hitter in the past month.
On a night when Boston’s lineup struggled against pitching, the Rockies’ decision to remove Rafaela against a tomato can didn’t change the team’s fate. However, going forward, neither the player nor the team will be in the best of circumstances.
According to Chris Smith of MassLive, Cora stated of Rafaela on Wednesday, “I know he’s swinging the bat well.” He will continue to hit even after spending a day on the bench. Actually, keep him from growing weary. He will therefore be prepared for tomorrow. He will either pinch hit or be used as a defensive substitution today.
But we’re going to do it that way. On some days, one of the lefties will not start against a righty and will instead assist us in the latter stages of games. Everyone is in agreement. Everyone knows what we stand for and what we hope to achieve. No complaints have been made either.
Now that Yoshida is back and filling in as the team’s go-to DH, the Red Sox may be able to prolong this carousel for a little while.
However, a decision to establish Boston’s lineup will eventually need to be taken.
The veteran is the most sensible trade piece Boston has to get some much-needed roster flexibility, even though Duran still has value due to his dynamic play style and his advantageous contract (under team control through 2028).
On NESN’s 310 to Left podcast, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told Speier, “It’s something we have to think about.” There is a very thin line between having an overcrowded roster and having enough depth to withstand injuries and keep players off their feet. You never want to be in a situation where you have to make a deal.
I believe there might be some chances to make what I believe people would refer to as “baseball trades,” in which you use depth in one area to fill a need in another. I don’t believe we’re in a position where we have to make a deal, but I do think we’ll be very open-minded about such things.
Even while it could be difficult to cut a player like Duran from a team that is attempting to plan a second-half playoff run, his obvious skills and contract might still make him a useful trade piece if Breslow and company need to make last-minute roster additions.
Duran might be the star of a package that could help Bostonland acquire a No. 2 starter like Joe Ryan before the trade deadline, but a deal including him alone might not be sufficient to add an impact player elsewhere on the club.
Whatever the future holds for Breslow, one thing is certain.
The Red Sox can’t continue with their existing roster structure.
Even though it may be unpleasant, Boston’s decision to cut players from this roster appears rather clear.
Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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