The Red Sox were under pressure to finalize 2025 salary agreements with four key players before the arbitration deadline, managing to reach deals with three pitchers while outfielder Jarren Duran’s contract remains unresolved.
Sources indicate that Boston successfully negotiated one-year contracts with three starting pitchers. Meanwhile, discussions with Duran have not yet resulted in an agreement.
Although a soft deadline of 1 p.m. ET was in place, talks may continue until 8 p.m. ET, when both sides are required to submit arbitration figures to the league.
If no resolution is reached, the team and Duran will exchange proposed salary figures, setting the stage for an arbitration hearing before an independent panel.
Both parties are eager to avoid this outcome, particularly following Duran’s outstanding 2024 performance. The contract with Garrett Crochet stands out among the agreements.
Acquired last month in a major trade with the White Sox, Crochet’s value was challenging to determine due to his unique career trajectory, which included a breakout year as a starter in 2025.
Boston awarded him $3.8 million, exceeding MLBTradeRumors’ projection of $2.9 million, possibly signaling confidence in his future contributions.
Duran’s Future and Arbitration
Tanner Houck, coming off a career-best season and entering arbitration for the first time, secured $3.95 million, slightly below the $4.5 million projection.
Both Duran and Kutter Crawford, designated as Super Two players, are eligible for a fourth arbitration year.
Crawford’s $3.5 million projection exceeded the final deal, while Duran’s $4.9 million projection remains pending.
These one-year deals leave room for potential long-term extensions. Crochet appears to be a priority, but Houck, Crawford, and Duran could also see new contracts before spring training.
Boston remains open to renegotiating terms, as such extensions could reduce luxury tax impacts by spreading out the financial burden over multiple years.
