Tigers could strike gold with this sneaky-good Jarren Duran trade

The Detroit Tigers are entering the weekend as the best team in Major League Baseball, and with the MLB Trade Deadline coming into focus it seems that the goal for the Tigers is to solidify their appearance as a World Series contender.

As it stands now, it would seem that, as with any contender, the Tigers will be in the market for pitching at the deadline. However, with faint rumors that the Boston Red Sox may be willing to move 2024 All-Star Jarren Duran, Bleacher Report believes the Tigers are among the teams in a prime position to make a move for the slugger.

In crafting potential trade packages for Duran, Zachary Rymer built a Tigers trade that would have Detroit's front office racing to make the deal official. In the proposed trade, Rymer has the Tigers giving up Jackson Jobe and shortstop prospect Bryce Rainer to the Red Sox for Duran.

Tigers steal Jarren Duran in proposed trade with Red Sox

First and foremost, if the Red Sox were to make this deal, Boston fans would have all the ammunition they need for their Fire Craig Breslow Movement. Breslow's handling of Rafael Devers' situation and blatant service time manipulation of Roman Anthony have left many Red Sox fans wondering how Breslow was a highly-touted understudy of Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein.

Moving Duran for an injured Jobe, and a far-away prospect in Rainer (Top 50 in baseball, though) would likely be the final straw for Red Sox fans. We should also add that in the days since this trade was originally suggested, Rainer has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. Important context, however, trading Duran would open a spot on Boston's roster for Anthony. Having said that, it's not an excuse for the Red Sox to be overly eager in making such a move.

However, for the Tigers, this trade would be a no-brainer. Detroit would still keep its top two prospects in Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle, and while losing Jobe may impact their long-term rotation plans, that would be a willing sacrifice for adding a player like Duran.

Duran would end the rotation of center fielders the Tigers have been using while potentially opening Javier Baez up for a lengthier runway at third base. In other words, this trade would give Tigers fans the unfamiliar feeling of the rich getting richer. You have to give to get, though, and this will by no means be cheap. The Tigers just have the luxury of trading from a position of surplus given their stacked farm system.