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(UPDATED) Phillies Pull Off Blockbuster Trade for Jhoan Duran Without Giving Up Top Prospect
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- (UPDATED) Phillies Pull Off Blockbuster Trade for Jhoan Duran Without Giving Up Top Prospect
The Philadelphia Phillies pulled off the biggest coup of the trade deadline, acquiring closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Mick Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait, according to multiple reports.
The Phillies didn't have to part with prospects Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford — and more importantly — Andrew Painter , whom the Twins initially wanted in a deal for Duran, USA Today's Bob Nightengale previously reported. Minnesota blinked and took a package of Abel (MLB.com's No. 92 prospect) and Tait (MLB.com's No. 56 prospect).
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Abel was the Phillies' No. 6 prospect and made six starts with the team, posting a 5.04 ERA before being sent back down to Triple-A. He also out-dueled Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes in his MLB debut. Tait is an 18-year-old catcher who has a .753 OPS and 11 home runs in 82 games across Single-A and High-A this season.
Duran is a dominant reliever who consistently throws 100 mph-plus. He has a 2.01 ERA in 49 appearances and 53 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings. He also has the swing-and-miss stuff the Phillies coveted, ranking in the 81st percentile in chase percentage (31.1) and 86th percentile in whiff percentage (30.9).
Duran won't be a free agent until after the 2027 season, so the Phillies have their new closer for at least the next two-and-a-half seasons.
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The Phillies were also reportedly interested in Athletics closer Mason Miller before the Duran deal.
The Phillies bullpen was in dire straits and got the dramatic makeover it desperately needed at the trade deadline with Duran. Philadelphia relievers rank 23rd in baseball in ERA (4.33) and 22nd in batting average allowed (.252). Their big free-agent acquisition in Jordan Romano has a 6.81 ERA and lefty reliever Jose Alvarado is still serving an 80-game PED suspension and is ineligible to pitch in the postseason.
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