Phillies Make Bold Bullpen Move, Trade Top Prospects for Jhoan Duran
So, big news out of Philadelphia—the Phillies have officially gone all-in at the trade deadline. They’ve reportedly landed one of the nastiest arms in baseball: Jhoan Duran, the flamethrowing closer from the Minnesota Twins. And let me tell you, this isn’t just a small tweak to their roster. This is a serious move, with the Phillies giving up two of their top prospects—pitcher Mick Abel and catcher Eduardo Tait—in return.
Now, if you haven’t followed Duran much, he’s a beast. He’s got a fastball that averages over 100 miles per hour—seriously, 100.2 mph on average—and it’s topped out at a blistering 104.8. That kind of heat just doesn’t come around often. Along with the heater, he mixes in a splitter, a curve, and a sweeper, making him incredibly hard to hit. He’s been lights out this season, posting a 2.01 ERA and racking up 16 saves. And here’s the kicker—he’s not just a short-term rental. He’s under team control through the 2027 season. That makes this deal even more valuable for the Phillies, who now have their ninth-inning guy locked down for the long haul.
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But yeah, the price was steep. Mick Abel, one of Philly’s highest-rated pitching prospects, has had an up-and-down season but showed flashes of brilliance—including a dominant MLB debut back in May. And Eduardo Tait? He’s just 18, already in High-A ball, and scouts rave about his bat and future potential behind the plate. Still, the Phillies clearly believe the time to win is right now.
And that urgency makes sense. The core of this team—guys like Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez—isn’t getting younger, and some of them are headed for free agency soon. Plus, the bullpen’s been a glaring weakness. Despite being tied for first in the NL East, the Phillies’ bullpen ranked 24th in ERA. They’ve tried patching it with arms like Jordan Romano and Joe Ross, but it hasn’t clicked. Duran changes that equation immediately.
Over the next few weeks, the bullpen will get even more reinforcements. David Robertson is back. José Alvarado’s suspension is almost over. So, with Duran now closing, manager Rob Thomson suddenly has a legit arsenal to mix and match in those crucial late innings.
Bottom line? This move signals one thing: the Phillies aren’t waiting around. They’re pushing their chips in now—and with a guy like Duran anchoring the bullpen, they just might have the firepower to make a serious October run.
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