Adam Duvall on the trade block?
The emergence of Jarren Duran could make Duvall expendable in a few weeks
Prior to landing on the injured list, Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall was swinging one of the hottest bats in baseball. The Sox outfielder was hitting .483 with four homers and 13 RBI with a 1.138 slugging percentage.
Unfortunately Duvall hasn’t had the same success he did before landing on the IL.
The Sox reinstated the 34-year-old on June 9 and in the 14 games he’s played post-injury, Duvall is hitting a paltry .133 with one homer and a .244 slugging percentage.
With the trading deadline just five and half weeks away, could Duvall be the odd man out of the lineup?
There’s a case to be made for the Sox to move on from the slugger. The emergence of Jarren Duran and his ability to play center field everyday is one reason.
Duran has provided the Sox lineup a spark with blazing speed. He stolen three bases during Saturday afternoon’s 5-4 loss to the White Sox.
Duran was called up from Triple-A Worcester in mid April and has since stolen 14 bases in 15 attempts over 58 games. The California native has also put pressure on opposing defenses by turning singles into doubles. Duran has a career high 21 doubles on the season.
Boston is only 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot so it’s unlikely they’ll tear down the roster. It’s possible Chaim Bloom is a buyer and a seller.
Duvall has played almost every day since coming off the injured list. His bat is ice cold striking out eight times in the last three games.
Any contending team needing a thumper for the lineup could turn to Boston and inquire if he’ll be available at the deadline. Duvall will be a free agent at the end of the season but could bring back a decent return if he can get hot at the plate again.
According to the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham, executives from other teams believe the Red Sox are hoping Duvall hits similar to what he did at the start of the year in order to trade him.
Duran is the Sox long term solution in center field which makes Duvall expendable. If he can start to hit again, maybe he helps bring back another pitcher for their rotation the Sox desperately need.
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