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The Arizona Diamondbacks are 40-39 on the season, and will likely be in contention for an NL Wild Card spot by the time the MLB trade deadline comes around.
While this team could use starting rotation help, it can't be ruled out that they'll add to their outfield this season. If they do make such a trade, there are some interesting options they could target.
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer predicted that the D-Backs will link up with the Boston Red Sox on a very intriguing outfield swap that would exchange a struggling outfielder for a struggling outfielder in a change-of-scenery trade for both teams.
Diamondbacks predicted to swap struggling OFs in trade with Red Sox
"Arizona Diamondbacks (40-39): They'll get Jarren Duran from the Red Sox," Rymer predicts. "... Arizona also has the right-handed sticks that Boston needs. Just to throw one idea out there, a gut-check trade of Duran for former top prospect Jordan Lawlar would be a lot of fun."
The Diamondbacks being predicted to trade for an outfielder and for Jarren Duran with the Red Sox would not be too shocking.
But Rymer's idea for such a trade, swapping Jordan Lawlar for Duran, would be a truly stunning trade between the two franchises heading in opposite directions.
Lawlar is 23 years old, under club control through the 2031 season, and while he's back on the injured list, his limited playing time this season was very encouraging.
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He has posted 0.6 bWAR in 12 games this season with a .316 batting average and an .856 OPS in 38 at-bats.
In comparison, Duran has 0.5 bWAR in 72 games with a .199 batting average and a .624 OPS in 292 at-bats. He's also under club control only through the 2028 season.
While, in theory, adding the former All-Star Game MVP would be a nice move for the Diamondbacks, sending Lawlar to make such a move would be a mistake.
Adding Duran in a trade wouldn't be a bad idea, but doing so by moving on from Lawlar would not be a good idea. However, with the D-Backs getting very little from their left-handed hitters other than Corbin Carroll, a lefty slugger is a big need this year.
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A first baseman would make a lot of sense, as would an outfielder like Duran. But, with the team's lack of production from their lefty hitters, Duran's .624 OPS wouldn't actually be a bad pickup, all things considered.
And if he could return to his 2024 All-Star form, when he had 48 doubles and 14 triples along with 21 homers and an .834 OPS, he would be exactly what this D-Backs team needs.
But Duran hasn't been that great this season, and probably isn't the best trade target this team could land. That's especially the case if Rymer's trade idea of swapping Lawlar for Duran were the deal Boston is looking for.
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