The Boston Red Sox, a franchise synonymous with October glory, clawed their way back to the postseason in 2025 after a frustrating drought—three straight years and five of the last six without playoff baseball. With four World Series titles since 2004, the most of any franchise this century, the Red Sox faithful were hungry for a deeper run. But their postseason dreams were cut short in a gut-wrenching wild card series against their archrivals, the New York Yankees. After seizing a one-game lead in the best-of-three series, Boston’s bats went ice-cold, mustering just three runs over the next two games, crashing out in heartbreaking fashion.
Now, as the offseason dawns, President of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow is plotting a bold path forward to ensure the Red Sox don’t just return to the playoffs but dominate. His top priority? Securing a frontline starting pitcher to pair with Cy Young contender Garrett Crochet at the top of the rotation. But blockbuster moves come at a steep cost, and whispers of a seismic trade are swirling—one that could send shockwaves through the AL East.
According to a captivating crossover episode of the Locked On Red Sox and Locked On A’s podcasts, the Red Sox might be willing to part with a beloved star to land their pitching prize: 2024 All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran. The 29-year-old speedster, a fan favorite for his electrifying play and relentless hustle, saw his production dip in 2025. His OPS slid from a sparkling .834 to a pedestrian .774, and his home run total dropped from 21 to 16. Most notably, Duran’s elite speed didn’t translate to the basepaths as effectively, with his stolen bases falling from 34 (in 41 attempts) to 24 (in 30 attempts).
With Duran’s salary set to balloon from $3.85 million to an estimated $8 million if Boston picks up his option, the Red Sox face a tough decision. At 30 years old next season, can Duran recapture his 2024 magic, or is his trade value at its peak? Trading a player of his caliber could net the elite arm Boston desperately needs, but it’s a gamble that could alienate fans who’ve embraced Duran’s heart-and-soul style.
The proposed deal, floated by Locked On A’s host Ayad “Booney” Bunni, would see Boston target a familiar foe: two-time All-Star right-hander Luis Severino. The 31-year-old, who spent eight seasons with the Yankees before a one-year stint with the Mets and now plays for the Oakland Athletics, is coming off the first year of a three-year, $67 million contract. In 2025, Severino posted a 4.54 ERA over 162 2/3 innings in 29 starts with the A’s, a step back from his 3.79 ERA and 54-37 record during his Yankees tenure.
“Severino is who Severino is, right? He’s a solid major league pitcher,” Bunni said on the podcast. “Middle of the rotation type of guy. He is who he is.” But Bunni didn’t stop there. To sweeten the deal, he suggested including Oakland’s No. 4 prospect, 23-year-old right-hander Braden Nett, acquired in the trade that sent reliever Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres. Nett’s potential could be the X-factor that makes this trade irresistible for Boston.
With Lucas Giolito’s injury-plagued tenure likely ending in free agency, the Red Sox need a reliable arm to anchor the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in their rotation. Severino’s veteran presence and postseason experience—he’s “been there, done that,” as Locked On Red Sox host Gabby Maljanian put it—could stabilize a young Boston pitching staff. But Maljanian expressed reservations about the deal: “They need to get a sure thing as a No. 2 starter. My worry would be how efficient is he going to be to the point where it would make sense for the Red Sox to slot him into their rotation every five days?”
Severino’s 2025 struggles raise questions, but his track record suggests he could thrive in a new environment, especially with Boston’s potent lineup behind him. Pairing him with a high-upside prospect like Nett could give the Red Sox both immediate help and long-term potential.
Trading Duran, a homegrown star, for a former Yankee in Severino would be a bold move steeped in irony, given the storied Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. It’s a deal that could reshape Boston’s roster and reignite their postseason hopes—or backfire spectacularly if Severino underperforms and Duran flourishes elsewhere. Only Craig Breslow knows if this blockbuster swap is the right move, but one thing is clear: the Red Sox are ready to swing big to reclaim their place among baseball’s elite.