Red Sox Scramble for Power Hitter, Eyeing Astros' Isaac Paredes
In a bid to bolster their lineup and compensate for the loss of left-handed heavy hitters, the Boston Red Sox are reportedly considering trading outfielders Jarren Duran or Ceddanne Rafaela to acquire 92-homer star Isaac Paredes from the Houston Astros.
The Red Sox have been searching for a right-handed power hitter to counterbalance their heavily left-handed hitting lineup, and Paredes fits the bill perfectly. A two-time All-Star with a career OPS of .766, he boasts an impressive home run total of 92 in just six seasons at the major league level. The Astros, however, are not willing to part with Paredes unless they receive strong return value.
According to multiple team sources, the Astros have no interest in moving Paredes, but if the Red Sox offer a suitable package, including one of Duran or Rafaela, he may reconsider his position. While Paredes' home runs are exclusively to left field – all 26 in 2025 were hit to the same side – this poses an ideal opportunity for the Red Sox to acquire a power hitter who can thrive at Fenway Park.
However, given the emergence of rookie sensation Roman Anthony as the heir apparent to the Fenway left field spot, Duran's role becomes increasingly expendable. Meanwhile, Rafaela's defensive prowess is a valuable asset that could be leveraged in exchange for Paredes.
Duran's career metrics, such as 91 stolen bases and a .780 OPS post-2025 season, would make him an attractive piece to include in the trade package. His speed and offense would provide a significant upgrade over Paredes' limited toolset. On the other hand, Rafaela's Gold Glove-winning defense could be seen as a worthwhile addition for the Astros.
Ultimately, the Red Sox will need to weigh the merits of including one or both of Duran or Rafaela in exchange for Paredes. If they can muster sufficient value, they may finally acquire the power hitter needed to round out their lineup and give themselves a legitimate shot at the playoffs.
In a bid to bolster their lineup and compensate for the loss of left-handed heavy hitters, the Boston Red Sox are reportedly considering trading outfielders Jarren Duran or Ceddanne Rafaela to acquire 92-homer star Isaac Paredes from the Houston Astros.
The Red Sox have been searching for a right-handed power hitter to counterbalance their heavily left-handed hitting lineup, and Paredes fits the bill perfectly. A two-time All-Star with a career OPS of .766, he boasts an impressive home run total of 92 in just six seasons at the major league level. The Astros, however, are not willing to part with Paredes unless they receive strong return value.
According to multiple team sources, the Astros have no interest in moving Paredes, but if the Red Sox offer a suitable package, including one of Duran or Rafaela, he may reconsider his position. While Paredes' home runs are exclusively to left field – all 26 in 2025 were hit to the same side – this poses an ideal opportunity for the Red Sox to acquire a power hitter who can thrive at Fenway Park.
However, given the emergence of rookie sensation Roman Anthony as the heir apparent to the Fenway left field spot, Duran's role becomes increasingly expendable. Meanwhile, Rafaela's defensive prowess is a valuable asset that could be leveraged in exchange for Paredes.
Duran's career metrics, such as 91 stolen bases and a .780 OPS post-2025 season, would make him an attractive piece to include in the trade package. His speed and offense would provide a significant upgrade over Paredes' limited toolset. On the other hand, Rafaela's Gold Glove-winning defense could be seen as a worthwhile addition for the Astros.
Ultimately, the Red Sox will need to weigh the merits of including one or both of Duran or Rafaela in exchange for Paredes. If they can muster sufficient value, they may finally acquire the power hitter needed to round out their lineup and give themselves a legitimate shot at the playoffs.
. I mean, he's a great player and all that, but his stats are pretty one-dimensional - mostly lefties to the same spot in his career 
. And don't even get me started on Duran being expendable with Roman Anthony coming up 
... meanwhile, Rafaela's defense is kinda underrated 
. Still, if the Red Sox can swing a trade that gets them Paredes and makes their lineup more balanced, I'll be down for it 
I mean 92 home runs in 6 seasons? That's straight fire 
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. Roman Anthony is looking solid in left field, so I'm wondering if the Sox are just trying to mitigate that risk instead of addressing the bigger issue - getting some right-handed power 
. And let's be real, Paredes' home runs all go to one side... it's not like he's a game-changer or anything 
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! They're seriously considering trading away Duran or Rafaela for this guy, who's already proven himself to be a 92-homer monster 
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. Here are his Gold Glove wins:
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They need that power hitting ASAP or else the season is gonna be lost. But at the same time, I'm not sure if they should trade Duran... he's been on fire lately and has some clutch hits under his belt 
