The phone hasn't stopped ringing for Craig Breslow. Honestly, why would it? When you're sitting on a surplus of young, controllable, and incredibly fast outfielders, you’re basically the only store open in a neighborhood full of hungry shoppers. But here is the thing: everyone assumes the Boston Red Sox have to trade an outfielder because the math doesn't work. Four guys, three spots. It’s the oldest story in baseball.
Yet, as we sit here in mid-January 2026, the Red Sox outfielder trade rumors have taken a weird, sharp turn.
Just a few days ago at Fenway Fest, Breslow dropped a bit of a bomb. He told reporters that a trade involving an outfielder was "never likely" in his mind before Opening Day. Now, you can take that at face value or you can call it a classic executive smoke screen. Most of the industry is leaning toward the latter. Why? Because the Red Sox just backed up the Brinks truck for Ranger Suárez—handing him a five-year, $130 million deal—and suddenly the roster is lopsided. They have more starting pitching than they know what to do with, but there is a massive, Alex Bregman-sized hole at third base that isn't going to fix itself.
The Jarren Duran Dilemma
If you’re looking for the name that pops up most in scouts' texts, it’s Jarren Duran. It feels kinda unfair. The guy was an All-Star MVP in 2024 and followed it up with a solid, if slightly regressed, 2025. He’s fast. He’s aggressive. He’s the emotional heartbeat of the team when he’s on.
But his trade value is also a peak.
Duran is set to make $7.7 million in 2026. For a team like the Kansas City Royals, who are reportedly desperate for a lead-off hitter to pair with Bobby Witt Jr., that is an absolute bargain. The rumors connecting Duran to Kansas City have been simmering for months, and they make too much sense to ignore. The Royals have arms. The Sox need an infielder or perhaps even more high-end relief depth if they decide to move someone like Tanner Houck back to the rotation full-time.
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- Jarren Duran: The high-value chip. $7.7M salary.
- Wilyer Abreu: The defensive wizard with 20+ homer power.
- Ceddanne Rafaela: The utility weapon who might just move to second base anyway.
- Roman Anthony: The "Untouchable."
Basically, the Red Sox are trying to decide if they want to be "good" with four outfielders or "great" by turning one of them into a Gold Glove infielder.
Why Roman Anthony Changed Everything
The reason we are even talking about Red Sox outfielder trade rumors is a 21-year-old left-handed hitter who looks like he was built in a lab. Roman Anthony. After a 71-game rookie cameo in 2025 where he posted an .859 OPS and a hard-hit rate that rivaled Shohei Ohtani, he is officially the franchise.
Boston didn't just promote him; they locked him up. That eight-year, $130 million extension he signed tells you everything you need to know about the depth chart. Anthony is playing every day. He’s batting in the heart of the order. If you're Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, you’re looking at that contract and realizing there is only one "corner" spot left once you factor in Ceddanne Rafaela’s elite centerfield defense.
It’s a logjam. A talented, expensive, frustrating logjam.
The Infield Pivot
The Red Sox missed out on the Pete Alonso sweepstakes. They lost Alex Bregman to the Cubs. Now, they are left looking at trade targets like Nico Hoerner, Brendan Donovan, or Isaac Paredes.
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The Cubs, having just signed Bregman, suddenly have a surplus of their own. Nico Hoerner is a name that keeps surfacing in connection with Boston’s pitching depth, but some insiders think the Cubs might actually prefer a guy like Wilyer Abreu. Abreu’s power is real—he mashed 22 homers last year—and he’s cheaper than Duran. If Breslow wants to win a trade on the margins, moving Abreu for a high-end second baseman while keeping Duran’s speed at the top of the lineup is the "smart" play.
But is it the "Red Sox" play? Historically, this front office has been hesitant to move young, pre-arbitration talent unless they are getting an absolute haul back.
The Yoshida Factor
We have to talk about Masataka Yoshida. He’s the elephant in the room. He’s owed a lot of money, he doesn’t really have a defensive home, and he’s clogging up the Designated Hitter spot.
If the Red Sox could find a taker for Yoshida—even if they have to eat 80% of the remaining $54 million on his deal—the outfield trade rumors would probably die instantly. You could just rotate the "Core Four" through the DH spot and keep everyone happy. But the market for a 32-year-old specialist who doesn't provide much power is, well, thin.
So, instead of trading the guy they want to trade, they might be forced to trade the guy everyone else wants to buy.
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What to Expect Before Spring Training
Don't buy the "we're happy with what we have" talk. The Red Sox are currently projected to have a payroll that flirts with the second luxury tax tier. They are second-time payers. That 30% tax rate is no joke, and if they want to add a veteran infielder like Eugenio Suárez or Bo Bichette, someone has to go.
Expect the rumors to intensify as we get closer to February 1st.
The most likely scenario? A "baseball trade." Not a prospect dump, but a young-talent-for-young-talent swap. Think Jarren Duran to a team like the Mariners or Royals for a package centered around a young, controllable starter or a high-leverage late-inning arm. Or, perhaps more interestingly, a three-team deal that finally lands Boston a permanent solution at the hot corner.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Lineup Cards: If Ceddanne Rafaela starts taking reps at second base during early Spring Training, an outfielder trade is almost certainly coming. It’s the only way to clear the grass for Anthony, Duran, and Abreu.
- Monitor the Infield Market: If the Cubs or Astros make another move for a utility player, it likely means they are preparing to ship out a starter like Hoerner or Paredes.
- Check the Tax: Keep an eye on the $244M luxury tax threshold. The Red Sox are currently hovering near it. Moving Duran’s $7.7M or finding a way to dump Yoshida’s salary is the only way they can add another big-name free agent without getting hammered by MLB's penalty system.
The Red Sox have the talent to be a playoff team in 2026. They just have to decide which of their "untradeable" stars is actually the key to fixing the rest of the roster.
Go check the latest reports on the Winter Meetings leftovers. The next move usually happens when everyone is looking the other way.