AL East Notes: Duran, Romano, Orioles, Abreu

The Purple Sox haven’t but mentioned a contract extension with Jarren Duran, the outfielder informed MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo earlier this week, although Duran doesn’t appear bothered by the dearth of talks.  “I’m simply right here to play baseball.  If they arrive speak to me, then they arrive speak to me, however I’m simply having fun with taking part in baseball with this staff,” Duran stated.  The Sox aren’t precisely on a ticking clock, as Duran doesn’t attain arbitration eligibility till this coming winter, although he’ll doubtless qualify for Tremendous Two standing and thus earn a fourth arbitration yr.

That further arb yr might make issues very profitable for Duran, given how has continued to up his recreation in 2024.  He has hit .280/.347/.478 over 350 plate appearances this season, nearly matching the numbers he posted over 362 PA in 2023.  When mixed along with his wonderful baserunning and strong protection in left and heart area, Duran has generated 3.1 fWAR, a quantity topped by solely eight gamers this season.

Contemplating how Duran struggled in his first two massive league seasons, it isn’t shocking that the Purple Sox wished a little bit extra information past simply 2023 to make it possible for Duran’s breakout was for actual.  Signing Duran to an extension shall be much more costly now than it might’ve been final winter, but it nonetheless may enable the Purple Sox to achieve some certainty over Duran’s escalating arb salaries, and add one other yr of management or two over a participant they may now view as a longer-term constructing block.  That stated, Duran’s age may be an element, as he turns 28 in September, and so Boston already has him arb-controlled by way of his age-31 season.

Extra from across the AL East…

• Jordan Romano’s throwing development has been paused as a consequence of some elbow soreness, Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider informed MLB.com’s Henry Palattella (X link) and different media.  Romano was presupposed to pitch off a mound at this time for the primary time since being positioned on the 15-day IL as a consequence of proper elbow irritation again on June 1, however now that plan has been briefly put aside.  Elbow discomfort has been a problem for Romano for all season, leading to a pair of IL journeys and a tough 6.59 ERA over 13 2/3 innings in between these absences.  Toronto’s bullpen has struggled for a lot of the season, and is at present with out its projected prime three relievers.  Romano and Yimi Garcia are injured, and Erik Swanson is at present in Triple-A attempting to get on observe after posting a 9.22 ERA in his first 13 2/3 innings of 2024.
• Season-ending accidents to John Means, Tyler Wells, and now Kyle Bradish have solely underlined the Orioles’ want for beginning pitching, and Baltimore is broadly anticipated to pursue rotation assist on the deadline.  Nevertheless, sources inform The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo, and Ken Rosenthal that GM Mike Elias hasn’t felt the necessity to turn out to be any extra aggressive in the wake of Bradish’s Tommy John surgical procedure, and that the O’s may nonetheless wait till nearer to the precise deadline to make any pitching strikes.  The Orioles’ 49-26 file offers them loads of respiration room to judge their wants, although Baltimore can be in a good race with the Yankees for the AL East crown.
• Ending the notes put up with one other Purple Sox merchandise, Boston reinstated Wilyer Abreu from the 10-day injured checklist at this time, and optioned Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.  Abreu has missed simply shy of three weeks with a sprained ankle, interrupting the outfielder’s quietly excellent play since making his MLB debut final season.  Abreu had a .862 OPS over 85 PA in 2023, and along with his rookie standing nonetheless intact, has now gained some Rookie of the Yr buzz along with his .272/.344/.485 slash line over 189 PA this season.