Phillies Plan B if they can't trade for Byron Buxton might be Red Sox All-Star

The Philadelphia Phillies are in dire need of some outfield help this season, as Adolis Garcia sustained a season-ending injury, and they need to figure things out with Justin Crawford, Derek Hill, and Gabriel Rincones Jr.

With the left-handed Brandon Marsh, the Phillies' ideal deadline target would be a right-handed-hitting outfielder. If there were one player who would be a dream pickup, it would be Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.

But what if he's not made available for trade? Who's their next best option? Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report identified Boston Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran as the "next best" trade target for Philadelphia. While not ideal, he does bring one "huge" quality: control.

Phillies linked to Jarren Duran as next-best trade option to Byron Buxton

"If Buxton is off the table, the next-best option is probably Boston's Jarren Duran," Miller writes. "... and Duran's two remaining years of arbitration would be huge for the Phillies - as was the case when they traded for the unrelated Jhoan Duran last summer."

Obviously, if Buxton could be had in a trade, he would be the player the Phillies should splurge to get. He's a right-handed power-hitting outfielder with good defense. There's no better fit for the Phillies than him.

But, since he has a no-trade clause, the Phillies might have to pivot. If they do, Duran might be their best option this summer.

The 29-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder isn't an ideal fit, but he is a better option than a lot of the other trade targets on the market.

He is under club control through the 2028 season, which would be a big plus for the Phillies in a trade.

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But, beyond his control, Duran has struggled a bit too much this season. He has a .199 batting average with 12 homers and just 0.5 bWAR on the year.

His .624 OPS leaves a lot to be desired, and he is a bit more risky of a pickup in a trade than some other cheaper rental options. Boston won't trade Duran for a small return, so the Phillies would have to pay up.

Doing so for a player who's been steadily regressing the last few seasons, and who is almost 30 years old, and is a left-handed hitter, would not be ideal for the Phillies.

If he were performing like his 2024 self, when he led baseball in doubles (48) and triples (14) with 9.0 bWAR, a .285 batting average, and an .834 OPS, then he would make a bit more sense for the Phillies.

But, as of right now, Duran is a bit too risky and wouldn't be a great target for Philadelphia. Miller named him as their next-best trade target, but he really shouldn't be high on their list of OF trade targets this summer.

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• Red Sox looking likely to trade Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Jarren Duran, and Willson Contreras