ESPN links Reds to one Red Sox outfielder while ignoring an obvious fit

The Cincinnati Reds need more thump in the lineup, and they'll likely to have get it from an outfielder. None of this is new analysis, nor is their reported connection to the Boston Red Sox's outfield logjam.

Yet again, they've been attached to an outfielder in Boston, this time by ESPN. Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel ranked the best players available on the trade block this offseason, and there was Jarren Duran at No. 7, assigned 50-50 odds of actually being dealt over the winter. Among his best fits? The Reds.

That's no surprise, seeing as how Duran checks about every box the Reds need. He produced a 111 wRC+, smacked16 home runs, and recorded 24 steals in 2025 while playing primarily in left field. As a left-handed hitter with power and speed, he'd fit like a glove at the top of Terry Francona's lineup.

Just a few spots further down the list at No. 13 is Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox's right fielder who has won two straight Gold Gloves and just hit 22 home runs in 115 games last season. However, among his listed "best fits", the Reds are nowhere to be found.

Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu would be a good fit for the Reds — maybe even better than Jarren Duran

Now, there's some logic to pursuing Duran over Abreu. The former primarily plays left field which is a huge area of need for the Reds. Meanwhile, the latter plays right field, which may be reserved for Noelvi Marte in 2026 and beyond.

Likewise, Duran has showcased a higher ceiling, producing 6.8 fWAR and an eighth-place MVP finish in 2024. Abreu has yet to prove he can reach those heights. However, Duran's 2024 campaign is starting to look more like an outlier after he came back to earth this past season. He accrued 3.9 fWAR in 2025, and looked more like his 2023 self (2.5 fWAR).

A four-win player is still extremely valuable, but not quite to the same degree as a perennial All-Star. With the Red Sox reportedly valuing Duran as the latter instead of the former, it's possible the value proposition just doesn't make sense for the Reds.

Abreu, meanwhile, is a surefire star. He's the superior defender over Duran in the outfield, and has plenty of power (.223 ISO) to make up for a relative lack of speed. Three years younger than his outfield counterpart and with one extra year of team control remaining, Abreu is simply the better trade target for the Reds at this point in time.

Of course, if the Reds get either player, it'll be a boon for their chances in 2026. The lineup needs an infusion of power and improved defense, things both Duran and Abreu can provide.