The Philadelphia Phillies have made a major move ahead of the MLB trade deadline, acquiring Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran in a high-impact deal aimed at strengthening their bullpen for a deep postseason run. According to reports, the Phillies are sending top pitching prospect Mick Abel and rising catcher Eduardo Tait to the Twins in exchange for Duran, who has recorded 16 saves across 49 appearances this season.
Known for his blazing fastball and devastating splitter, Duran has become one of the most dominant late-inning pitchers in baseball. His career stats include a 2.47 ERA and 74 saves in 83 opportunities over four seasons. The 26-year-old is also under team control through 2028, giving the Phillies long-term value beyond the current season.
Duran’s addition comes as Philadelphia looks to return to the World Series after falling short in recent years. They reached the 2022 Fall Classic but lost to the Houston Astros in six games. In 2023, they made it to the NLCS but were eliminated in a tight Game 7 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. This year, they exited early after a division series loss to the New York Mets.
With strong hitting and a reliable starting rotation, the Phillies now add a powerful closer to help navigate the tough National League playoff bracket. The move signals their all-in approach as October baseball looms.
