Jarren Duran and the Red Sox have negotiated a new contract for the 2026 season, agreeing to a deal worth $7.7 million with an additional $75,000 that can be earned via incentives. Duran was not a free agent, of course; we’re talking about arbitration negotiations here. And, interestingly, the Sox had an $8 million option they could have picked up, which had been negotiated in the lead-up to arbitration last offseason. In lieu of picking it up, the Sox paid Duran a $100,000 buyout and negotiated the new deal. If it seems weird that the Sox would do this merely to save $125,000 — which is the difference between the $8 million option and the $7.875 million they’ll pay him if he hits his incentives — I agree! That is weird! What is going on here!
The big question, of course, is what this deal means vis a vis a potential trade of Jarren Duan. The fact is, I don’t think it means much, except that a little bit of cost certainty could theoretically help move trade negotiations along. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Jarren Duran’s option isn’t the only one the Sox declined. The team also held a $12 million mutual option on Liam Hendriks that they will not be exercising after another injury-plagued season. The Sox will instead trigger a $2 million buyout, meaning they paid Hendriks a total of $12 million over two seasons, during which he pitched 13.2 innings and allowed 11 runs. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
But it’s not just the Red Sox breaking up with their players, we have players breaking up with the Red Sox, too. After a strong bounce-back season that ended in injury, Lucas Giolito declined his $19 million option to return to the Sox and elected free agency. As Giolito’s decision reflects, his injury is minor and he expects to be fully healthy at the start of the season. The Red Sox have until November 18 to decide whether to extend him a qualifying offer in an attempt to keep him around for one more year. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Talking about contract stipulations isn’t as fun as actually watching baseball. Thankfully, we now know when we can next do that. Spring training schedules were released today, and the Sox will kick off the 2026 season with their annual duel with Northeastern on February 20. The action is starting a little earlier this coming spring, as we’ll have the glorious return of the World Baseball Classic. (Paul Casella, MLB.com)
