Boston Red Sox still have MLB's No. 1 trade chip, experts say
Even after shocking the baseball world by trading Rafael Devers, the Boston Red Sox may still have the biggest piece at the MLB trade deadline table.
On Wednesday, The Athletic released its 'MLB trade deadline big board,' which ranks players who could be moved by the trade deadline next month. Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was ranked No. 1 on the board.
Advertisement
The Athletic's trio of reporters who put out the big board don't believe a deal is likely. The big board graded the likelihood of a player being traded on a red-yellow-green system, with red meaning unlikely and green meaning likely.
Durran got a 'yellow' grade. In their eyes, it would take a huge return for Boston to move on from Durran.
'To be clear: There's little reason for Boston to even entertain offers for Duran unless the return is substantial,' per The Athletic. 'His production has predictably fallen short of his 2024 breakout, but Duran remains a solidly above-average hitter with lots of speed and the ability to play center field.'
The Red Sox have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, which played a large part in top prospect Roman Anthony's delayed debut at the major league level.
Advertisement
An injury to Wilyer Abreu opened the door for Anthony to crack the lineup. But with Abreu on track to return, the Red Sox will have to start making hard decisions.
The Athletic noted that Boston could certainly continue to build around the 2024 All-Star. However, the fact that Duran is under team control until 2028 could make him an enticing trade target for other teams.
Durran's name has been popping up in trade rumors for a while, with the Padres emerging as a top candidate early on.
Would the Red Sox actually trade Duran after already moving on from the centerpiece of the lineup? That will likely depend on how the team does over the next month or so.
Advertisement
Boston is back over .500 after a recent surge. But if the Red Sox start sagging in the standings again, we could see the team turn into sellers at the deadline.
BETTING: The Red Sox regular season wins line is set at 80.5 on Caesars. Our complete list of Massachusetts sportsbook promos will help you decide which sportsbook to use.
More Red Sox coverage
Read the original article on MassLive.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Giants land Rafael Devers in stunning Red Sox trade
The post Giants land Rafael Devers in stunning Red Sox trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. Drama has enveloped the Boston Red Sox and Rafael Devers at points in the 2025 MLB season. Now, the two sides have separated in rather stunning fashion. The Red Sox are trading their designated hitter to the San Francisco Giants, as first reported by FanSided insider Robert Murray. Advertisement The Red Sox are receiving a package of players in return. What the entire package entails is currently unknown. However, there is some information. Boston is receiving right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks and left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, according to Murray. The other parts of this package are outfield prospect James Tibbs and pitching prospect Jose Bello. Harrison was meant to be the Giants' starter on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he was scratched from the start due to his involvement in this blockbuster trade. It appears as if Sean Hjelle will take the mound instead, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Why Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to Giants John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Boston has experienced an inescapable storyline this season over where Devers plays. This began when the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman in free agency. Devers immediately remarked to the media that he would remain the third baseman moving forward. Advertisement However, he did not take the glove on Opening Day. Bregman took over as the third baseman for Boston to begin the year. Devers accepted the designated hitter's role, though the situation became more complicated in early May when first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury. Devers again declined to move positions, this time to first base. He did recently begin participating in infield drills, Red Sox manager Alex Cora shut down talk of the All-Star slugger taking the field in 2025. 'We talk, but he's my DH,' the Boston skipper said, via reporter Conor Roche, 'Let's leave it at that.' Whether Devers has the opportunity to take the field with the Giants remains to be seen. In any event, San Francisco has bolstered its lineup in a big way. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are left to build their lineup without one of their usual All-Star presences in the middle of the order. Related: When will Rafael Devers and the Giants face the Red Sox for first time since trade Related: Giants' Willy Adames' in-game reaction to stunning Rafael Devers trade
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant Wanted To Join The Celtics Or Knicks At February Trade Deadline
Kevin Durant Wanted To Join The Celtics Or Knicks At February Trade Deadline originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Kevin Durant's looming exit from Phoenix has taken another twist. According to NBA insider Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports, Durant privately expressed interest in being traded to either the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks during the February 2025 trade deadline. While the Suns held on to him through the season, the revelations now add context to his seemingly inevitable departure this summer. Advertisement 'There were rumblings at the trade deadline KD wanted to land with the Celtics or Knicks. New York's interest reportedly isn't mutual anymore. Boston's cap sheet and trajectory make that scenario highly unlikely.' At the time, both teams were thriving. The Celtics had championship aspirations with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading a stacked roster, while the Knicks were rising fast under Tom Thibodeau. Neither franchise wanted to risk disrupting chemistry. However, hindsight may have changed some perspectives. Boston collapsed in the second round to the Knicks, and the series took a devastating turn in Game 4 when Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon. Without their leader, the Celtics lost in six games and exited the playoffs. Durant's presence, in retrospect, may have salvaged their title hopes or at least softened the blow of losing Tatum. Still, with Tatum now potentially out for all of next season and Boston's payroll reaching historic levels, the Celtics are looking to shed salary, not add a $50 million superstar. Advertisement As for the Knicks, they defeated Boston but were promptly exposed in the Eastern Conference Finals by a faster and deeper Pacers team. New York's offense dried up, and defensively, they had no answer for Indiana's spread attack. That playoff failure led to Thibodeau's firing and a sudden shift in their future plans. While New York wasn't interested in Durant in February, that stance may now be softening. Durant nearly joined the Knicks back in 2019 but chose the Brooklyn Nets instead. His history with the New York market is well documented, and some around the league believe a reunion with the city, this time in blue and orange, would be welcomed by both sides if Phoenix lowers its asking price. Still, Boston appears out. Tatum's injury and the team's tax burden make it unlikely they revisit Durant talks. Their focus is reportedly on roster rebalancing and staying under the new punitive second apron. Advertisement NBA Insider Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson has revealed a trade scenario that would allow the Dallas Mavericks to acquire Kevin Durant, without sacrificing their prized 2025 No. 1 overall pick. Still, the Mavericks aren't one of Durant's three preferred destinations. According to multiple reports, Durant has only expressed long-term interest in the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat. Each team has young talent and cap space to craft strong trade packages. The Spurs are said to have 'heavy mutual interest' and already submitted an offer, which was reportedly rejected. The Timberwolves were also involved, but talks collapsed when they refused to include Jaden McDaniels. Durant reportedly has no interest in Minnesota regardless. A new wild card has emerged in the Toronto Raptors. League sources suggest the Raptors could attempt a 'Kawhi-style' surprise move, banking on their market, depth, and playoff credibility to win Durant over after the trade. Advertisement As for Dallas, the wildcard is Kyrie Irving. His long-standing friendship with Durant could pull strings behind the scenes. If the Mavericks can land KD while keeping Flagg, it could reshape the Western Conference overnight. Durant's next chapter is coming, just not where he originally hoped. Related: NBA Fans Think Shams Charania's Body Language Might Reveal Kevin Durant's Next Destination This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant Deal Expected To Get Less Value Than Desmond Bane
Kevin Durant Deal Expected To Get Less Value Than Desmond Bane originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The 2025 offseason is in full swing, and yet one of the league's biggest potential moves is shaping up to be far more underwhelming than expected. Despite being a two-time NBA champion, former MVP, and one of the most gifted scorers in league history, Kevin Durant might be traded for less than what the Memphis Grizzlies just got in return for Desmond Bane, a player who has never made an All-Star team. Advertisement According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, league executives believe the draft capital that Phoenix can expect in a Durant trade will not surpass the haul Memphis received in the blockbuster Bane deal. "In speaking with several sources Sunday in the wake of the Bane deal, the universal belief is that any draft packages going to Phoenix in a Durant deal likely won't surpass the haul of draft picks coming to Memphis for Bane, who hasn't yet made an All-Star team." That Grizzlies-Magic trade, which included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony along with four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap, sent shockwaves around the league. But instead of setting the market for Durant, it has exposed a hard truth: age, leverage, and timing have dramatically reduced the 35-year-old superstar's value. Advertisement 'In speaking with several sources Sunday in the wake of the Bane deal, the universal belief is that any draft packages going to Phoenix in a Durant deal likely won't surpass the haul of draft picks coming to Memphis for Bane,' Bontemps reported. One anonymous executive put it even more bluntly. 'Everyone has to throw their prior precedents and baselines out. Those deals don't mean Durant is worth 12 firsts now.' Just 28 months ago, the Brooklyn Nets extracted Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, four first-round picks, and a pick swap from Phoenix for Durant. Now, with Durant reportedly willing to sign a contract extension with only three teams, the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat, his value has plummeted. The limited pool of preferred destinations has narrowed Phoenix's leverage dramatically, and it's showing. Advertisement Complicating matters further, teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves remain interested but are unwilling to part with key young players. Minnesota is reportedly not including Jaden McDaniels in any Durant discussions. The Raptors remain in the mix, along with the Clippers, but none appear eager to mortgage their futures the way Phoenix once did. At the heart of this collapse in trade value is context. Durant, now 36 when the 2025–26 season tips off, has dealt with multiple injuries over the past few years and has not made it out of the second round since leaving the Golden State Warriors. There's also the perception that Durant may demand another trade if things go south in his next stop, further limiting long-term value for acquiring teams. Advertisement It's a surreal turn for a player who was once considered the most untradeable asset in basketball. But this is the modern NBA. Desmond Bane, a tough, ascending two-way wing without an All-Star nod, just fetched a bigger haul than Kevin Durant might. Whether that's a reflection of Durant's regression or the league's shifting valuation of youth and control, one thing is clear: the era of blockbuster returns for aging superstars is fading. And Kevin Durant is finding that out the hard way. Related: Suns Reject Spurs Counteroffer for Kevin Durant This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
