The St. Louis Cardinals need a marquee addition in the near future; otherwise, 2025 could feel like a missed opportunity for their supporters. Although they’re in the playoff hunt, this roster isn’t built to capture a World Series title.
One or two true stars are still required before St. Louis can stand alongside powerhouses such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Thomas Gauvain of Redbird Rants recently floated an intriguing solution: trading for Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
As Gauvain noted, Duran’s current .257/.311/.408 line is a tick below league average by OPS+, but last season he slashed .285/.342/.492 with 21 homers, 34 steals, and elite right‑field defense worth 10 Outs Above Average—a profile that made him a top‑10 position player.
Over the past three seasons, the Cardinals have relied on a mix of good—not great—performers. To break through, incoming president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom must put landing a superstar at the top of his to‑do list.
Duran checks many boxes: he’s productive, under team control, and still has upside. With a deep farm system rich in pitching prospects, St. Louis has the assets to tempt Boston, whose own outfield surplus makes Duran expendable.
Given the Sox’s wave of rising prospects ready to fill the gap, a mid‑season deal sending Duran to St. Louis would hardly be a surprise.
