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 also how much stood between the Red Sox and Jarren Duran at last week’s deadline to avoid going to arbitration. Duran filed at $4 million, his club offered $3.5 million. Come on. Duran was one of the best all-around players in the game last season.

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.