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MN Twins Reliever Trending at MLB Trade Deadline
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- MN Twins Reliever Trending at MLB Trade Deadline
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline is now just 9 days away and the Minnesota Twins sit four games below .500 at 48-52 . They have now sent out signals that they are willing to part with impending free agents.
Derek Falvey should move every player that isn't under team control for next season. Those deals aren't going to generate a significant amount of return, however.
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
If the Minnesota Twins are going to get serious about a roster shakeup, and look for something significant back in return, it will be represented by dealing controllable assets. Short of trading Joe Ryan , their leverage relievers are where opportunity lies. Jhoan Duran is one to watch.
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Jhoan Duran trending on trade market for Minnesota Twins
Both Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax would slot in as the top reliever for multiple contending teams. It's Duran who ESPN notes as a trending name with the deadline looming however.
"This deadline is suddenly teeming with high-end relievers who will at the very least be in the rumor mill during the coming days. If the Minnesota Twins opt to move their closer — and his devastating splinker — Duran might be the best of the bunch."
Griffin Jax is 30 years old whereas Duran is still just 27. He is having the best season of his career and legitimately should have been an All-Star. He owns a 1.62 ERA (2.12 FIP) and has a 50/16 K/BB across 44 1/3 innings.
Although his velocity, averaging 100.3 mph on the fastball, is the lowest of his career he has made it work. The Twins closer is using his four-seam the least he ever has while leaning into the splinker and pairing a sweeper with his curveball.
Jhoan Duran, Disgusting 88mph Knuckle Curve. 🤮
Missed it by this much. 🤏 pic.twitter.com/DtknyzncOy— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 20, 2025
Duran is making just $4.13 million this season and is arbitration eligible each of the next two seasons. Not a free agent until 2028, his team control should net the Twins some serious prospect capital.
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Related: Dodgers, Twins in Trade Talks Over Prized Bullpen Assets
Saves aren't the representative statistic they were once seen as, but Duran has those to his credit as well. With the Minnesota Twins this season he has racked up 15, and he has 73 total across his four-year career.
It would be weird to see Duran in a different uniform, but this may be the time for Minnesota to cash in on their elite bullpen. Derek Falvey has often developed leverage arms from within, and a bad team doesn't need Duran more than it needs new pieces to work in the future.
MN Twins didn't have to be in this spot
Coming into the season the Minnesota Twins had every reason to believe they could contend for an AL Central division title. On paper they had arguably the best squad, and their meltdown last year was something they could put in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately they got in their own way.
Carlos Correa and his .263/.312/.386 slash line are producing at the worst rate of his career. Royce Lewis has been both hurt and ineffective ( 79 OPS+ ). The internal outfield talent of Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner have flopped as well.
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Aside from Byron Buxton being both healthy, and otherworldly (his 4.2 fWAR is currently 6th best in baseball), the collective has come up short. It didn't have to be this way, and it really shouldn't have been.
Related: Minnesota Twins Getting Serious as Trade Deadline Sellers
Combined with last season's failure though, it's hard to place faith in this core being worthy of running it back again. Putting Duran or Griffin Jax on the market may help the future process. Joe Ryan would maybe accelerate it even more.
It's definitely tough to think what could have been though.
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