The San Diego Padres are still trying to find a steady presence in left field following Jurickson Profar’s departure. They had hoped Gavin Sheets could fill the void, but that plan was derailed when he suffered an injury during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Now, former MLB GM Jim Bowden is linking Red Sox outfielder to San Diego as a potential solution.
“The Padres have been using a rotating cast in left field since Profar signed with the Braves,” Bowden wrote. “They’re looking for a more permanent answer. He could be that guy—he led the AL in doubles and triples last year, hit 21 homers, and stole 34 bases. Though he started slow this season, he’s currently batting .271 with 18 doubles, seven triples, four home runs, and 13 steals.”
This follows a recent report from The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, who also mentioned the Padres’ interest in Duran. Bowden believes Boston may be open to moving him after calling up top prospect Roman Anthony on Monday.
“With Anthony, the top prospect in baseball, now in the big leagues, the Red Sox might view Duran as expendable,” Bowden added. “But they’ll want pitching in return—and that’s something San Diego’s system lacks. They could offer top prospects, but Boston may not be interested unless a proven player is part of the deal.”
One name that could bridge the gap is Dylan Cease, whom the Padres are reportedly considering trading. If the Red Sox are set on acquiring a starting pitcher, Cease could be their target.
Padres GM A.J. Preller has made bold moves before. If he thinks Duran brings more value to the team than Cease or any other potential trade piece, he wouldn’t hesitate to make a deal happen.
