NY Mets rumors: The obstacle in a Red Sox-Jarren Duran trade

Maybe the most logical thing for the New York Mets to do at this point is trade for a left fielder. Who would make the most sense? The Boston Red Sox, of course. Their outfield surplus, absence of a third baseman, and overall limited infield choices make these two regular trade partners ideal to strike yet another.

An outfielder for an infielder. It’s so simple.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the obstacle for the Mets is their reluctance to trade Brett Baty. It’s understandable because as crowded as the infield has gotten in Queens, Baty is coming off of a strong defensive and offensive year. Trading him would create added uncertainty. It fails to resolve the problem.

The latest Mets rumors remind us how invested the Mets are in Brett Baty

Not every position on the field can be occupied by an All-Star. Tell that to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets accept this and seem more than satisfied to let Baty blossom more at third base. They passed over the idea of trading him to the Miami Marlins alongside A.J. Ewing for Edward Cabrera.

Jarren Duran, the most likely Red Sox outfielder to get traded, is a few years ahead of Baty. The man on the outside currently, the question could come down to how the Mets feel about their other outfielders. We know Roman Anthony isn’t getting traded. Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu are a bit different. Younger and coming off of Gold Glove seasons in center field and right field, they hold additional appeal. They’d also cost more than Baty.

Ronny Mauricio doesn’t solve a problem for the Red Sox. They have young infielders. Luisangel Acuna hardly moves the needle on a trade either. The Mets have younger prospects such as Jacob Reimer. He won’t do Boston much good in 2026.

What’s the solution? It would seem to depend on what the Mets’ alternatives at third base are. The drop off after Eugenio Suarez is huge at third base. Boston could simply sign him anyway. He’s a good fit there. That doesn’t solve their overcrowded outfield.

Perhaps something larger, like a trade that includes Duran and Brayan Bello, is the only way this happens. Courtesy of a Red Sox fan on X @RafaelaReport, their suggestion was Duran and Bello for Baty, Jett Williams, and Jonah Tong.

Let that one marinate. It doesn’t solve third base for the Mets, but it does give them a guy who has proven it in the major leagues.