What Jarren Duran Expects From Red Sox Before Trade Deadline
The Boston Red Sox have put themselves in an intriguing position ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline, warranting a handful of questions.
Boston won seven of its last 10 before the MLB All-Star break, putting the team within 4 1/2 games from the top of the American League East. In defeating the Kansas City Royals in two of their last three, the Red Sox maintained their wild-card spot, leaving it up to the front office to decide where to go.
MLB All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran addressed the topic before Tuesday night’s Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field.
“Honestly, I don’t know. My focus is on the boys in the clubhouse,” Duran told Pedro Martinez on the MLB All-Star Game’s red carpet, per MLB Network. “That’s my focus — to keep us together and be a good teammate for them. Whatever the front office is gonna do is for them to know and my job is just to be with the boys and focus on winning games.”
As of late, that’s exactly what the Red Sox have done; emphasizing only what’s within their control, regardless of how division foes have performed — or underperformed.
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The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, who both sit ahead of the Red Sox, haven’t been on their respective A-games. New York, so far, is 4-8 in July, losers in 13 of its last 20 games. Baltimore lost seven of its last 10 heading into the All-Star Game, leaving the AL East up for grabs once the second half commences.
Duran is among the most valuable roster members standing at the forefront of Boston’s momentum swing. The 27-year-old has blossomed out of the lead-off spot, using speed to become an extra-base machine while also providing reliable defense in the outfield. He’s hitting .284 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs, leading the Red Sox in doubles (27) and triples (10) while also stealing 22 bases — three shy of a career-high.
“Personally, I think it’s just how I go about the game,” Duran said, per MLB Network. “I wanna play it hard every single time. I’ll ground out to the second baseman and I’ll try to beat out the groundball. I just feel like the love I have for this game to try to play it as hard as I can cause I never know when it’s gonna be my last. So I think just going about that has really brought out my true character.”
Regardless of what direction the front office goes, Duran’s place as a pivotal everyday player will await him when the Red Sox return to action Friday night.