When a team controls a rising star through 2028, lowball offers shouldn’t make it past voicemail. The Boston Red Sox know exactly what they have in Jarren Duran—and exactly what they’re not settling for. So when the San Diego Padres came calling with big names and flashy valuations, Boston responded with a firm no. Championship windows demand real value, not clearance-rack pitches dressed as deadline blockbusters.

The San Diego Padres have been going after Jarren Duran since last season and have not been able to get him. Although they did pull off last season, this season has been different. It looks like the Padres are really interested in getting Duran, but there is a new problem. The problem is that the Red Sox might not be ready to let him go, at least right now.

It was reported by Sean McAdam that the Padres did make a trade offer for Jarren Duran. The MLB Deadline News on X reported this, “The #Padres are in a “never-ending quest to acquire [Jarren] Duran” and offered the #RedSox a package including SP Dylan Cease, C Ethan Salas, and another prospect (not SS Leo de Vries) in exchange for Duran, which BOS “quickly rejected,” per @Sean_McAdam.“

The San Diego Padres made a blockbuster offer for Jarren Duran, headlined by Dylan Cease and Ethan Salas. Cease, an All-MLB arm with a 4.59 ERA, carries a $21.8 million market value. Salas, still only 19, signed for $5.6 million in 2023 but is struggling in Double-A. Boston swiftly rejected the package, likely seeing the combined $27 million value as insufficient return.

The Red Sox hold a premium asset in Duran, whose team control runs affordably through the 2028 season. He’s hitting .254 with nine homers, ten triples, and 52 RBIs while stealing 16 bases. Though a step below his All-Star 2024 campaign, he remains a high-upside outfielder with elite speed. With Duran’s value poised to rise, Boston wants more than aging rentals or unproven prospects.

Cease, while once dominant, is on an expiring deal and lacks consistency to anchor a postseason push. Salas remains raw, with a career .221 average and a .652 OPS in the minors—not major-league ready. Boston is seeking a cost-controlled starter, not a fading ace or a teenager with plate questions. For now, Duran’s contract leverage and rising profile outshine anything San Diego placed on the table.

The Padres may be persistent, but Boston’s front office isn’t running a charity for contender scraps. This wasn’t just a rejection—it was a reminder that value has context, not just headlines. Jarren Duran isn’t on clearance, and the Red Sox aren’t flipping franchise pieces for rental drama and rehab projects. If San Diego wants in on the Duran sweepstakes, they’ll need more than expired upside and glossy prospect rankings.

If not Duran, the Padres will go for another Red Sox player

There’s always a backup plan—especially when the first one comes with sticker shock. The San Diego Padres might’ve walked into trade season with Jarren Duran circled in red ink, but the Boston Red Sox aren’t exactly running a clearance sale. With Duran priced like a franchise cornerstone, the Padres may soon find themselves eyeing another outfielder… one who’s hitting just as well and costing a whole lot less.

San Diego may lose interest in Duran as Boston refuses to budge firm demands. Duran’s production has dipped in 2025: roughly .254 average, nine home runs, twenty‑five doubles. Boston’s control through 2028 and crowded outfield give the Boston Red Sox leverage over any negotiations. If Duran remains unavailable, the Padres pivot toward trading for Wilyer Abreu instead.

Wilyer Abreu looks increasingly appealing: batting about .256 with eighteen home runs and fifty‑five RBIs. His Statcast metrics showcase a .356 wOBA, 12.9 percent barrel rate, and strong exit velocity. Abreu won a Gold Glove last year and remains under team control through 2029. His combination of power, youth, and control would solve San Diego’s left‑field and DH need.

Trading for Abreu could offer the Padres the mix of offense, defense, and cost control. Boston might consider Abreu expendable given emerging outfield prospects like Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela. Acquiring Abreu gives San Diego a longer‑term asset compared to a short‑term rental like Dylan Cease. Thus, Wilyer becomes their logical No. 1 trade target ahead of the July thirty‑first deadline.

If Duran’s too rich for their blood, the Padres might find gold in Abreu instead. Boston holds the cards, but San Diego holds the need—and time’s running short. In a deadline market bloated with rentals and rehab projects, Abreu offers rare balance. Young, controllable, and quietly elite, he’s the kind of player who doesn’t just plug holes—he builds bridges. And if the Padres blink, someone else might cross first.