The Pink Sox haven’t but mentioned a contract extension with Jarren Duran, the outfielder instructed MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo earlier this week, although Duran doesn’t appear bothered by the dearth of talks. “I’m simply right here to play baseball. If they arrive discuss to me, then they arrive discuss to me, however I’m simply having fun with enjoying baseball with this crew,” Duran mentioned. The Sox aren’t precisely on a ticking clock, as Duran doesn’t attain arbitration eligibility till this coming winter, although he’ll doubtless qualify for Tremendous Two standing and thus earn a fourth arbitration 12 months.
That additional arb 12 months might make issues very profitable for Duran, given how has continued to up his sport in 2024. He has hit .280/.347/.478 over 350 plate appearances this season, nearly matching the numbers he posted over 362 PA in 2023. When mixed together with his glorious baserunning and strong protection in left and heart area, Duran has generated 3.1 fWAR, a quantity topped by solely eight gamers this season.
Contemplating how Duran struggled in his first two large league seasons, it isn’t stunning that the Pink Sox needed a bit extra information past simply 2023 to be sure that Duran’s breakout was for actual. Signing Duran to an extension will likely be much more costly now than it will’ve been final winter, but it nonetheless may enable the Pink Sox to realize some certainty over Duran’s escalating arb salaries, and add one other 12 months of management or two over a participant they could now view as a longer-term constructing block. That mentioned, Duran’s age is also an element, as he turns 28 in September, and so Boston already has him arb-controlled by way of his age-31 season.
Extra from across the AL East…
- Jordan Romano’s throwing development has been paused on account of some elbow soreness, Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider instructed MLB.com’s Henry Palattella (X hyperlink) and different media. Romano was imagined to pitch off a mound right this moment for the primary time since being positioned on the 15-day IL on account of proper elbow irritation again on June 1, however now that plan has been quickly put aside. Elbow discomfort has been a problem for Romano for all season, leading to a pair of IL journeys and a tough 6.59 ERA over 13 2/3 innings in between these absences. Toronto’s bullpen has struggled for a lot of the season, and is at the moment with out its projected high three relievers. Romano and Yimi Garcia are injured, and Erik Swanson is at the moment in Triple-A attempting to get on observe after posting a 9.22 ERA in his first 13 2/3 innings of 2024.
- Season-ending accidents to John Means, Tyler Wells, and now Kyle Bradish have solely underlined the Orioles’ want for beginning pitching, and Baltimore is extensively anticipated to pursue rotation assist on the deadline. Nonetheless, sources inform The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo, and Ken Rosenthal that GM Mike Elias hasn’t felt the necessity to grow to be any extra aggressive within the wake of Bradish’s Tommy John surgical procedure, and that the O’s may nonetheless wait till nearer to the precise deadline to make any pitching strikes. The Orioles’ 49-26 document offers them loads of respiratory room to judge their wants, although Baltimore can be in a good race with the Yankees for the AL East crown.
- Ending the notes publish with one other Pink Sox merchandise, Boston reinstated Wilyer Abreu from the 10-day injured listing right this moment, and optioned Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A within the corresponding transfer. Abreu has missed simply shy of three weeks with a sprained ankle, interrupting the outfielder’s quietly excellent play since making his MLB debut final season. Abreu had a .862 OPS over 85 PA in 2023, and together with his rookie standing nonetheless intact, has now gained some Rookie of the Yr buzz together with his .272/.344/.485 slash line over 189 PA this season.
