After his use of a homophobic slur directed at a fan Sunday, Jarren Duran was given a two-game suspension by the Red Sox. In truth, they were left with no alternative.

It’s Red Sox Rookie Development Program week and pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than a month. Seven questions as baseball’s return draws nearer: 1. Why are the Sox haggling with Jarren Duran?

Team policy across the majors is to go to a hearing with any arbitration-eligible player who doesn’t agree before the deadline, but the Sox and Duran are at odds over $500,000.