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In early June, as the Boston Red Sox find themselves three games below .500 with a 29-32 record, trade speculations are rising around their leadoff hitter, Jarren Duran. The San Diego Padres have expressed interest in acquiring Boston's left fielder, according to a report from Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Lin notes that the Padres are targeting Duran to fill critical gaps at the bottom of their lineup.

Jarren Duran, currently batting .264 with a .312 on-base percentage and a .406 slugging percentage, has been a key player for the Red Sox this season. Over 60 games and 282 plate appearances, he has recorded four home runs, 13 doubles, six triples, 34 RBIs, 31 runs, and 13 stolen bases. Despite his modest performance this season, Duran has proven his potential. Last year, he finished eighth in the AL MVP voting, leading the league in both triples (14) and doubles (48), while contributing 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases with a .285/.342/.492/.834 slash line.

Under team control through the 2028 season and earning $3.75 million this year, Duran is an attractive asset for many teams. However, his value to the Red Sox might have taken a turn as their top prospect, Roman Anthony, edges closer to a major league debut. Anthony, who turned 21 on May 13, is ranked the No. 1 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Currently playing for Triple-A Worcester, Anthony boasts a .303 batting average, .430 on-base percentage, .492 slugging percentage, and a .922 OPS over 53 games. He has garnered attention with his eight home runs, nine doubles, two triples, 23 RBIs, 41 runs, 45 walks, and 49 strikeouts in 242 plate appearances.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged Anthony's imminent arrival by stating, "He's not knocking at the door, he's knocking it down." The decision on Anthony's promotion is complicated, as noted by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. On Saturday, he emphasized the importance of balancing Anthony's development with the current needs of the team and their priorities for the 2025 season. Breslow remarked, "It's impossible to ignore the performance he has had in Triple-A and how that's lining up with our struggles here at the big league level, but we're also trying to be mindful of the environment that we put him in, what he still has to work on, and what the pressure and demands would be."

With the possibility of Duran being considered expendable given the Red Sox’s underwhelming performance, and Anthony's readiness for the majors, the Red Sox may soon face pivotal roster decisions as they look to improve their standing this season.