Phillies Trade For Twins Closer Jhoan Duran

The Phillies reportedly have traded for Twins closer Jhoan Duran. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

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The Philadelphia Phillies have finally found their closer in flamethrower Jhoan Duran. With the MLB trade deadline set to expire on Thursday, the Phillies and Minnesota Twins have agreed on a deal that will send Duran to Philly in exchange for two highly touted prospects, catcher Eduardo Tait and pitcher Mick Abel, according to sources.

Duran, who has 74 saves since he debuted in 2022, has 16 saves and 2.01 ERA this year. He’s known for a nasty curveball and a 102-mph splinker, a hybrid pitch combining elements of a splitter and a sinker. Here’s a look at his Ninja-worthy pitch:

The biggest selling point for the deal is Duran will remain under team control until after the 2027 season. With Duran taking over the ninth inning, Phillies manager Rob Thomson can now dispatch reliable relievers, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering, in the seventh and eighth innings.

For most of the season, the Phillies’ bullpen has been a hot mess with 16 blown saves, tied for fourth-most in the NL. Jordan Romano, who was signed in the offseason, struggled in the closer role, and Jose Alvarado, who took over as the closer in April, was suspended for 80 games under baseball’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Alvarado should return in August, but because of his suspension, he’s ineligible to pitch this postseason.

But getting Duran comes with a big cost for the Phils. Tait — only 18 — is regarded as a Top-100 prospect. He’s hitting .251 with 11 homers for Class-A Clearwater. Abel, a former first-round draft pick who made his MLB debut early this year before returning to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, has put together an excellent season with a 7-2 record and 2.31 ERA.