MLB Trade Rumors: Royals turn up heat on Red Sox over Jarren Duran; Tyler Glasnow linked to Tarik Skubal package

The MLB hot stove continues to remain red hot. While there have been some major free agents coming off the boards during the winter meetings, teams have also held talks for possible trades. Here's taking a look at two rumors, that have been doing the rounds this past week.

Kansas City approach Red Sox for Jarren Duran

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported in his column on Thursday that the Kansas City Royals have explored a possible trade for the Red Sox's Jarren Duran, who has three years of club control left and will become a free agent only ahead of the 2029 season.

Duran is a career .267 hitter with 50 home runs and 226 RBIs since his debut in 2021. He has been recognized as one of the young core members in the Red Sox roster in the past couple of seasons.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden, later on Thursday, further reported that the Red Sox are anticipating a corner infielder or a starting pitcher in a trade for Duran.

"Royals will move a starter for a power-hitting left fielder and the Red Sox will trade Jarren Duran if they get the right corner infielder or starting pitcher," Bowden wrote.

Tyler Glasnow-Tarik Skubal trade swap discussed by Dodgers and Tigers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had preliminary talks with the Detroit Tigers about trading for Tarik Skubal in exchange for fellow starter Tyler Glasnow, as reported by ESPN's Aidan Gonzalez in their post-winter meetings column on Thursday.

"Tyler Glasnow's name has come up in conversations, and the Dodgers would not be opposed to moving him," he said.

Skubal is going to head into his final year of arbitration with the Tigers. Trading him before the deadline next year could bring a big haul to Detroit. Meanwhile, the Dodgers owe $60 million over two years to Tyler Glasnow. They have a club option of $30 million for the 2028 season, which will turn into a $21,562,500 player option if declined.

While there is no guarantee that Skubal ends up signing with the Dodgers in free agency next winter, having the two-time consecutive American League Cy Young winner on their team will give them a chance to win their third straight World Series.

Moreover, letting go of Glasnow should be an easy decision considering his health issues and the Dodgers already having a strong rotation consisting of Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Emmett Sheehan on their roster.