The Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran on Friday, signing him to a guaranteed contract for 2025 and a 2026 option that can pay as much as $15.75 million in total.
According to multiple reports, Duran’s 2025 salary is $3.75 million, while his 2026 option is heavily dependent on performance-related bonuses but could be worth as much as $12 million.
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The two sides exchanged salary arbitration figures after failing to reach agreement on a 2025 salary ahead of last week’s deadline. The Red Sox filed at $3.5 million, Duran $4 million.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 17: Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox, Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox, and Rob Refsnyder #30 of the Boston Red Sox stand atop the dugout steps before the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 17, 2024 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Duran agreed to a contract extension, avoiding arbitration
Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Now, he’ll effectively make the median, plus a $100,000 buyout of his contract that brings the minimum guarantee to $3.85 million.
Duran’s contract also includes performance bonuses that trigger when he reaches 450, 500 or 550 plate appearances — $50,000 for each, bringing his maximum possible 2025 salary to $3.9 million.
Duran’s deal with the Red Sox includes hella salary escalators that are non cumulative.
– $1M for MVP top-20 ($9M option salary).
– $2M for MVP top-10 ($10M option salary).
– $3M for MVP top-5 ($11M option salary).
– $4M for MVP win ($12M option salary).
– If not in top-20 MVP,…— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 17, 2025
If Duran achieves all his 2025 and 2026 contract incentives, he’ll make $15.9 million over the next two years. Robert Murray of FanSided was among those to report the breakdown of Duran’s 2026 incentives:
– $1M for MVP top-20 ($9M option salary).
– $2M for MVP top-10 ($10M option salary).
– $3M for MVP top-5 ($11M option salary).
– $4M for MVP win ($12M option salary).
– If not in top-20 MVP, but is named second team all MLB: $500K escalator ($8.5M option salary).
– If traded, club option is eliminated and $100K buyout converts to an assignment bonus payable by assignee club.
Duran, 28, had a breakout season in 2024. He slashed .285/.342/.492, led the AL in plate appearances (735), at-bats (671), doubles (48) and triples (14), and went 34-for-41 in stolen base attempts.
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A former seventh-round MLB draft pick out of Long Beach State in 2018, Duran also hit a career-high 21 home runs, scored 111 runs, and drove in 75 last year.
Duran finished eighth in AL Most Valuable Player voting after logging 8.7 Wins Above Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. Only Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Gunnar Henderson had more in the AL.
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Durran slashed .295/.346/.482 in 2023, and saw time at all three outfield positions for Boston. He additionally stole 24 bases in 102 games.
In 353 career games (2021-24) — all with the Red Sox — Duran owns a .272/.326/.457 slash line, 34 home runs, 142 RBIs, and 67 steals.
Duran was one of just 17 salary arbitration-eligible players who did not reach agreement with their team on a 2025 salary ahead of the Jan. 9 deadline.
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