The Crimson Sox should ask themselves earlier than any Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu commerce, “Who will we miss extra in 2025 and past?”
If Boston trades Duran, they may lose a multidimensional participant, their offensive spark plug — a borderline star.
If the Sox commerce Abreu, they may lose much less offensively (proper now) however loads defensively.
Every participant’s skillset helped the 2024 staff overachieve, skillsets the Sox will certainly miss transferring ahead.
Making the choice extra sophisticated (simpler?), each had been 2024 American League Gold Glove Award finalists. Abreu received the award in proper subject.
Duran was additionally a Silver Slugger Award finalist.
Boston has six left-handed hitters on their 40-man roster, and three of the ‘Massive 4’ are left-handed.
Having that many lefties in any lineup isn’t a recipe for achievement. A few of these lefties should go.
Amongst them, certainly one of Duran or Abreu is the odd man out if Romany Anthony is untouchable.
There’s no straightforward reply for the Crimson Sox. It’s going to harm regardless of who they resolve to maneuver. (However bear in mind: That’s not a nasty factor. We’ve waited years for this group to achieve this level.)
Crimson Sox Jarren Duran Can Be Key Piece of Commerce for 2025 Ace
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Crimson Sox outfielder Jarren Duran’s emergence as a borderline MLB star is awe-inspiring.
Duran discovered one thing on the plate after altering his swing for the primary time in the course of the 2019-20 offseason.
On the Alternate Coaching Web site in 2020, he confirmed new-found energy.
That energy translated in-game at Triple-A in 2021, the place he hit a then-career-high 16 dwelling runs. He additionally raised his slugging proportion by 107 factors and had a .873 OPS over 60 video games.
Sadly, that didn’t translate to MLB.
Over 33 video games with the Crimson Sox in 2021, Duran hit .215 with a .578 OPS, two dwelling runs, 4 walks, and 40 strikeouts.
He saved tinkering along with his swing, however nothing labored.
He continued tweaking his swing all through 2022, however once more nothing labored.
Jarren hit .221 with a .645 OPS, three dwelling runs, 14 walks, and 63 strikeouts over 58 video games.
Duran was nonetheless determining the way to play heart subject 4 years after changing from second base in 2019.
Duran had -2 Outs Above Common and a -3 Fielding Run-Worth in 2022. Between 2021-22 mixed, he had -12 Defensive Runs Saved. His outfield jumps in 2022 had been okay, however his routes had been horrible.
After spring coaching work with Dustin Pedroia, recommendation from Jackie Bradley Jr., and a mindset change, issues clicked for the then-26-year-old in 2023.
Jarren hit .295 with a .828 OPS and 121 OPS+. He had 34 doubles, eight dwelling runs, 40 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. And he struck out 25 p.c of the time and walked at a 6.6 p.c clip.
He took the additional base 40 p.c of the time, ranked eighth with 4 further runs on the bottom paths, and amassed 7.2 baserunning runs.
The California native caught along with his swing as an alternative of adjusting it when issues obtained unhealthy.
Defensively, Duran ranked within the 56th percentile in OAA (0), had -6 DRS and 1 FRV, and ranked within the forty first percentile in fielding worth. He improved his jumps however nonetheless wasn’t taking nice routes.
Duran was restricted to 102 video games as a result of a left toe harm sustained scaling the middle subject wall at Yankee Stadium in August.
2023 wasn’t a fluke. If something, he obtained higher in 2024.
Nonetheless sticking along with his 2023 swing, Duran added a leg-kick mid-season that took his bat to a different degree.
He hit .285 with a .834 OPS and 129 OPS+. Duran had 21 dwelling runs, drove in 75, and stole 34 bases. Jarren took the additional base at a 54 p.c clip, added six further runs on the bases, and amassed 8.4 baserunning runs.
He struck out 22 p.c of the time and walked at a 7.4 p.c clip.
Duran was Among the many greatest gamers in MLB, not solely amongst outfielders or solely American League gamers.
His profession 12 months carried over to his protection, as he turned probably the greatest outfielders in MLB,
Even in what was a historic season for him, Duran nonetheless beat himself up often.
One argument for Crimson Sox outfielder Jarren Duran being a commerce piece for a possible 2025 Ace pitcher is his age and talent set.
Duran is 28, probably the greatest gamers in MLB, and can hit free company in 2029. Velocity is an enormous a part of his recreation, however speedsters don’t essentially age properly.
Why not promote excessive on him, proper? Nevertheless, dynamic, athletic, multidimensional gamers like Jarren don’t come round usually.
Wilyer Abreu a Good, Younger, Invaluable Participant in His Personal Proper
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Wilyer Abreu wasn’t simply probably the greatest A.L. rookies or among the many greatest rookie outfielders in MLB in 2024. He was one of many higher rookies in MLB, no matter place.
Abreu began solely six of the Crimson Sox’s first 16 video games and struggled.
He hit .231 with a .618 OPS, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in his first 11 video games.
Over his subsequent 42 video games, Abreu hit .280 with a .868 OPS. He had 12 doubles, six dwelling runs, and 20 RBI with 16 walks and 37 strikeouts.
Abreu missed the following 19 video games after spraining his proper ankle when he slipped on the dugout steps.
The 25-year-old’s subsequent two weeks had been sluggish going earlier than he went off once more over his subsequent 39 video games.
Over that span, the Venezuela native hit .297 with a .941 OPS, seven dwelling runs, 27 RBI, 11 walks, and 36 strikeouts.
Abreu struggled in September like everyone else within the Crimson Sox lineup.
Abreu completed 2024 with a .255 batting common, .781 OPS, and 114 OPS+. He hit 33 doubles and 15 dwelling runs, drove in 58, and stole eight bases. He had a 48 p.c further bases taken fee and ranked within the 82nd percentile of baserunning run worth.
Boston’s rookie proper fielder struck out 28 p.c of the time and walked at a 9 p.c clip.
Wilyer’s bat ranked within the sixty fourth percentile of batting run worth.
When he did make contact, he hit the ball onerous and for slug. He took his walks and nonetheless confirmed a number of the plate self-discipline he confirmed in 2023. The whiffs, particularly within the zone, had been extra obvious in 2024, and he chased extra.
Abreu has mainly been the offensive participant he an anwas marketed to be on the time of the commerce. That’s comprehensible for a participant with lower than one 12 months of service time.
Wilyer virtually solely confronted right-handed batters final 12 months, struggling mightily vs. lefties when he did face them.
Defensively, the Crimson Sox rookie lefty ranked within the ninetieth percentile of fielding run worth and had 7 OAA (91st percentile) and 17 DRS.
Abreu, who liked to point out off his arm, ranked within the ninety fifth percentile of arm worth and the 98th percentile of arm energy (95 mph).
Not often did anybody run on him.
Wilyer was the first Crimson Sox rookie since 1975 and the third to win a Gold Glove Award.
Wilyer Abreu was one-half of the return of the Christian Vazquez commerce, which didn’t go over properly within the 2022 Crimson Sox clubhouse. It was a transfer that made the Chaim Bloom haters hate him much more than they already had.
However look the place we are actually. Abreu was one of many league’s greatest rookies final season, received a Gold Glove Award, and is a primary commerce candidate — and few need him traded.
There’s a case, although, for the Crimson Sox, like Jarren Duran, to commerce Wilyer Abreu for a big 2025 improve.
Abreu is youthful, and he has yet one more 12 months of staff management. Wilyer’s recreation doesn’t revolve round pace; as an alternative, it’s about energy, slug, plate self-discipline, baserunning, and protection. These attributes doubtless age higher in the long run.
What staff wouldn’t need him?
The above may make Abreu extra replaceable. It’s a case to maintain him, too.
Nevertheless, the Crimson Sox don’t must make a Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu commerce earlier than the 2025-26 offseason. They’ll get what they want for subsequent 12 months in different methods.
Featured Picture Credit score: Mitchell Layton/Getty Photos
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