The Boston Red Sox are in the market for starting pitching heading into the MLB trade deadline. Evidently, a blockbuster trade offer from the San Diego Padres involving an All-Star pitcher wasn’t enough to land outfielder Jarren Duran from Boston.
According to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, the Padres inquired about a deal for Duran that would’ve landed the Red Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease and top prospect Ethan Salas, along with a second prospect. Boston reportedly rejected the offer.
Related: Dylan Cease Trade Landing Spots, including Red Sox
- Dylan Cease stats (ESPN): 4.59 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .243 batting average allowed. .727 OPS allowed in 113.2 innings pitched
Salas, age 19, is rated by MLB Pipeline as among the top catching prospects in baseball. The 6-foot-1 catcher was the No. 1 international prospect in 2023, signing for $5.6 million, and is widely viewed as one of the best catching prospects in baseball.
Cease, age 29, earned All-MLB Second-Team honors in 2022 and 2024. The 6-foot-2 righty has a 3.61 ERA with a 3.06 K/BB ratio and an 11.0 K/9 since the 2022 season. He would be an immediate upgrade for a Red Sox rotation that needs a front-line starter.
Related: Jarren Duran Trade Landing Spots, including Padres
- Jarren Duran stats (ESPN): .254/.321/.428, .748 PS, 9 home runs, 10 triples, 52 RBI, 16 steals, 56 runs scored in 414 at-bats
However, there are justifiable reasons why Boston reportedly rejected the offer. Cease is on an expiring contract, and with Boston likely needing to sign Alex Bregman to a new contract this winter, Cease might walk in MLB free agency. Furthermore, the righty has a 4.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP this season, numbers that align with his 2023 production (4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP).
The Red Sox might also be skeptical of Salas’ offensive output long-term. After all, he has a career .221/.305/.347 triple-slash line with a .652 OPS in 800 career plate appearances in the minor leagues. This season with Double-A San Antonio, he has a .188 batting average, but his strikeout rate (12.2 percent) and walk rate (14.6 percent) are promising.
While Duran hasn’t replicated his All-Star production from the 2024 season, he’s under contract through 2028, and Boston might want a cost-controlled starter signed to a similar deal.
