Mets eye All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran to bolster their lineup and defense. He brings speed, power, and exceptional fielding, fitting their win-now ambitions.
The New York Mets are suddenly in the market for another player to fill out their outfield after trading away Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien. With the new hole to fill on the field, the Mets could now be involved in trade talks with Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
In a recent Bleacher Report article listing potential landing spots for Duran, Zachary D. Rymer has New York as a candidate to land the one-time All-Star if Boston decides to trade him away this offseason.
In his 2025 campaign, Duran was a factor in all facets of the game, aiding him to a 4.7 WAR season in Boston. At the plate, he hit 41 doubles and an American League-leading 13 triples on his way to a .774 OPS. His final slash line for the year read .256/.332/.442.
Duran has shown his potential to be a game-changer with his bat, but a move to the Mets would also bring such much-needed defensive ability to the outfield in Citi Field. Over the last two seasons, Duran has recorded 17 defensive runs saved above average. The 29-year-old ranks in the 93rd percentile in arm value in the MLB and the 71st percentile for arm strength. Bringing in Duran to pick up what’s lacking in the outfield aligns perfectly with the president of baseball operations, David Stearns’ desire to improve run prevention.
Possibly the best area of Duran’s game comes on the basepaths, however. His 91st percentile sprint speed makes his 98th percentile baserunning value much more understandable. He added 7 runs for the Red Sox in 2025 thanks to his talent on the bases. In each of his last three seasons, Duran has stolen at least 24 bases.
For the Mets to land the star outfielder, Rymer has the club trading away corner infielder Mark Vientos and right-handed pitcher Jonah Tong. Vientos took a significant step back from his breakout 2024 campaign, making it much easier to see his name being shipped out in potential trades. If the Mets re-sign Pete Alonso, fans will have no problem with shipping out Vientos for a proven outfield star in Duran.
Tong is one of New York’s top prospects, made especially important by the team’s lack of pitching, but he struggled in his first stint in the majors at the tail end of 2025. His 7.71 ERA across five games is evidence of a rough adjustment to the major league level, something the Mets may not be willing to wait for.
Duran is one of the hottest names on the trade market this offseason, with plenty of teams interested in the all-around outfielder. If the Mets can make a quick move to land Duran and bolster their outfield, their postseason chances for 2026 would be instantaneously improved.