3:39pm: The Mariners are also making a run at Duran today, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman, like Nightengale, adds that there is now an expectation that Duran will be moved at some point today.
2:16pm: USA Today’s Bob Nightengale also writes that there’s a good chance of Duran being moved before the end of the day. Nightengale adds that the Twins have held out for top pitching prospect Andrew Painter in conversations with the Phillies. Philadelphia has been steadfast in not wanting to move Painter in prior trade discussions. It’s a big ask on Minnesota’s part, but that reflects Duran’s affordable control window. Passan had reported last week that the Twins wanted multiple top 100 caliber prospects for either Duran or Jax.
2:07pm: The likelihood of a Jhoan Duran trade seems to be rising. Jon Heyman of The New York Post suggested this afternoon that Minnesota’s talks with other teams on the star closer are “heating up.” Mark Feinsand of MLB.com hears similarly and adds that the Twins could have an agreement on a Duran deal later today.
The Mariners and Yankees have been loosely tied to his market in recent days. Heyman reports that the Phillies and Red Sox are strongly involved and adds the Mets as another team that has at least shown some interest. Jon Morosi of MLB Network adds that the Twins have had conversations with the Dodgers concerning each of Duran, Griffin Jax and Louis Varland. The Blue Jays, Rangers and Padres are among the teams also known to be exploring the market for high-leverage bullpen help — though none has been linked to Duran specifically.
Duran is probably the prize of the reliever market, particularly with Emmanuel Clase no longer an option. The 27-year-old righty throws harder than anyone else in baseball aside from Mason Miller. His four-seam fastball sits in the triple digits, and he averages 97.5 MPH on his absurd sinker/splitter hybrid. Duran’s upper 80s knuckle-curve is an elite pitch in its own right. He has a 2.47 earned run average in parts of four big league seasons. That includes a 2.01 mark through 49 1/3 frames this season. He’s 16-18 in save chances, has struck out more than a quarter of opponents, and is second among relievers (minimum 40 innings) with a monster 65.4% ground-ball percentage.
The Twins are going to move a handful of impending free agents, including lefty reliever Danny Coulombe. The bigger question is whether they’ll trade any of their key controllable pieces. Duran is making $4.125MM and under arbitration control through 2027. Jax, a setup man with even bigger strikeout stuff, is also controllable for two seasons. Varland is still a season away from arbitration and comes with five years of club control, so it’d be very surprising if the Twins trade him.
Minnesota is also getting calls on right-hander Brock Stewart, writes ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 33-year-old Stewart is playing for barely above the league minimum and has two additional seasons of arbitration control. He has punched out 30% of batters faced en route to a 2.38 ERA across 34 innings. Stewart’s age and notable injury history (elbow discomfort in 2023, arthroscopic shoulder surgery last summer) mean the Twins should be looking to sell high despite the affordable control window.
I could see him going to the phils for painter and Chace
Consistent reporting that (for better or worse) the Phillies continue to refuse to discuss Painter as an option in any deal.
So what makes Painter so good? I looked up his stats and nothing special to make him a top 20 prospect in the game.
He’s made ~10 starts after Tommy John. His 2025 numbers aren’t the story.
Painter was the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball and went down with TJS. That was right before Skenes was drafted. Painter was coming up the same time as Jared Jones, Grayson Rodriguez, etc. and they said Painter was on a different level. 6’8” RH with a fastball that sits 95-98 and regularly touches 100. 3 secondary pitches, all of which are or have the potential to be plus pitches and has some of the best control in baseball. He has legitimate comps to guys like Justin Verlander. The Phillies have been handling him with kid gloves in his TJS rehab. He’s the type of prospect you don’t trade unless you get a star level player back.
Love these looks up stats guys, this kid is mature beyond his years on and off the field, just re- harnessing his number 1, projectable stuff. Tommy John does that to a 21 year old.
So he basically missed all of 2023 & 2024, He was dominate in 2022 at A & A+.
The numbers for 2025 aren’t off the charts by no means, barely 9k/inning.
So I am not blown away by him.
Obviously cause you’ve never seen any tape on him and are googling the stats of a just turned 22 yo whose club has him focused on rehab and experimentation with his arsenal at AAA when he’s less than 10 months removed from throwing off a mound. K/9 bad therefore not good, okay.
10 months? He missed 2 seasons.
This is a prime case of someone (you) making totally outlandish comments with ZERO knowledge. Every knowledgeable baseball fan is laughing at you right now – but you think you’re smart??? Dude, you are soooo WRONG!!!
As is your right. But it appears there are a lot of MLB GMs (Philadelphia, Oakland and Minnesota that we know of) who disagree.
But Professional MLB Talent Scouts are Blown Away by him.
The Phils won’t trade for him for the same reason the Mariners are insisting on him. The opinions of professional scouts.
Looking up minor league stats for a guy that is in his first few months of game action after TJS hardly equates to an opinion of note.
I saw Painter a couple of times in the minors when he was 19 up close and personal. I have never seen a kid that young with the stuff, command, easy velo, fundamentally perfect mechanics and demeanor that he exhibited. I would not include him in a package for any reliever in baseball.
@darinc in case it wasn’t clear. We are all laughing right now at you.
There is .0001% percent chance the Phillies are doing that deal. And I don’t don’t see the Twins getting multiple top 100 picks either unless they’re in the bottom 50. There’s a reason they still haven’t made a trade.
Yeah, no chance. That seems to be a leak by the Twins. If the Phils trade Painter for a reliever — I don’t give an eff whom — that would be malpractice.
I could see Abel/Crawford and their 7/8/9 guy. 2 guys that are in AAA ready to play and an A guy
The Twibs always, ALWAYS overvalue what they have and end up selling low on guys later as a result
If the Yankees offer a package with Carlos Lagrange for Jhoan Duran or Mason Miller there’s a good chance they come up with one of the closers.
If I was Minnesota I’d trade Duran to the Yankees for LaGrange and ERC.
If the Yankees offer Carlos Lagrange in a package there’s a really good chance they get Jhoan Duran or Mason Miller via trade.
You’re NEVER going to pry Painter lose from phillies, even for Duran…
Let’s put money on your claim right now!
There isn’t a chance in the world that Painter gets traded.
Please, Yankees. We need a back-end guy (or three).
If the Twins are asking for a prospect like Painter it probably means the asking price is going to way out of Cashman’s comfort zone. However, it depends on how badly the Twins want to trade him and if the price later on becomes more about quantity than quality
I totally agree. They didnt have that paragraph written yet, but there’s no way Cashman would match that prospect level.
No other team would either.
Most likely….The actual return will be far far less. Ask for the Moon. Release rumors that other teams are offering huge deals….Then in the end when you have to take the best offer on the table or go home….you likley take the best offer on the table. The best chance for the moon are other teams on tight budgets….since one of his selling points is the low contract.
That’s just thing the Twins don’t have to trade Duran they control him for two more years he’s not a free agent until 2028. They aren’t going to just take the best offer on the table.
The Twins are nuts. Thank god the Phillies said go f yourself. This is why twins are crap organization. Good luck with your Alex Freeland trade
Someone got their feelings hurt.
He’s under control. The twins don’t have to trade him. If you don’t offer what the twins want they’ll say no.
Sorry you’re not getting your way
You are one of the people/fans who have been diluted by the insanity of this second wildcard emboldening people to ask for the moon and stars for relievers. Relievers are by far the easiest to plug and place and have less value than starters or relievers.
Painter was the best pitching prospect in baseball until Skenes got drafted. It’s not some team’s random #1 pitching prospect, it’s one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
And yes, a 22 yo prospect that has plus control of 3 pitches and a high 90s fastball that has scout comps to Verlander is more valuable a commodity than Duran who is only going to get more expensive entering arbitration and even more pricey with an extension.
That Tanner Scott trade from last year have people really disillusioned. Jax & Duran combined aren’t even worth Painter’s ceiling. I can see why the Twins are trying to see if a team will make a mistake and overpay. But that’s more of a reflection on the mass delusions of reliever value.
If I was Dave Dombrowski and Jeremy Zoll called me and said you can have Duran for Painter and more. I would let the deadline play out and then book a flight to Minneapolis. I would take my belt off and I would whip the hell out of Zoll in front of his kids for saying something so stupid.
You are sooo crazy – for the public flogging !!!
But, you are sooo right about Painters quality – totally unmatched in baseball !
These Twins fans will run their mouths about Duran, but after seeing a month of a rehabbed Painter, they’ll be hiding in the weeds for posting such stupidity !!!
I’ve been a Jays fan since 1977, and we couldn’t pull together enough talent to get Painters mother, much less Painter himself…
That’s wonderful but the twins have the right to Duran. He’s under contract and team control.
It takes 2 to tango. If Painter is who the Twins want and the Phillies don’t want to give up Painter then they ain’t gettin no Duran.
I’m mostly responding to the OP here. The gall of some fans to be that entitled is unreal.
The twins will be home in September and the cost of doing business with a perennial pretender will be just as head scratching then as it is now. Twins will stay stuck in mediocre until they get creative with what little talent is on their meager roster, IMO.
As a life long Twins fan, I’ll will endorse Never Remember’s take
Are you absolutely sure you have the facts? Or more likely, you (over) reacting to rumors.
The Twins are seeing if they can get someone to overpay at the deadline. They can easily wait until the offseason to move Duran.
as a Phillies fan I agree entirely.
The best offers always come in July.
Any evidence to that claim?
Even if it’s true, the Twins can wait for next July, or the July after. Or just keep him and collect a pick down the road. The Twins don’t have much incentive to trade him or Jax unless it’s an offer they cannot refuse.
Yep. Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers did their shopping in the winter to avoid trading in the inflated July market. It’s even more inflated than it used to be, now that half the teams feel they have a chance at making the postseason.
A team can refuse any offer. The idea is to accept the best one.
So besides Duran what else are the twins willing to add to the package for painter.
You mean, besides Duran, Jax, Buxton and Correa, what else are the twins prepared to include in their offer for Painter???
Finally, a voice of reason. There are a lot of kids on the board today.
C’mon M’s! 8 top 100 prospects. Get it done!
Agreed
Ford absolutely has to be traded for someone—hope to god not a rental—why not in a package for Duran? Maybe with Hancock? They can throw in Coulombe since he’s a lefty?
The only teams that need Duran are contending teams not pretending teams.
I imagine the Twins would prefer prospects that are close to MLB ready. Guys to bring up with Jenkins, Gonzalez, Culpeper and Keaschall. They gonna have an interesting squad very soon.
Especially if they can lock up Joe Ryan and get a bounce back from Ober and one of Zebby/Festa becomes a top 3 starter.
Phillies have 2 top 80’guys in AAA right now
With so few clear sellers it makes sense to test the market if you have highly desired assets.
It sure does.
Get it done Jed.
I’d throw Bader in and ask for both Painter and Crawford back. Makes sense for both sides
Explain why so in detail
Phillies are in the market for outfielders and relief pitching. Twins want guys close to MLB ready. A package deal lets the Twins go quality over quantity and let’s the Phillies address two needs at once w/o trading 2-3 prospects for each like they might otherwise need to. And with such a top heavy farm they may not have the guys in the organizational 5-15 ranking range that moves the needle for other teams in the first place
Fantasy land
I think the question is why anyone would “toss in Crawford” for Harrison freakin’ Bader instead of just calling up Crawford.
The point is that Painter for Duran straight up is not enough from the Phillies side, but Painter + Crawford is too much
Where u Crawfords power?? You are dismissed.
If Crawford is not traded in the next 15 minutes…I suspect he will be starting for the Phillies this weekend.
The Phillies wouldn’t trade Painter for Duran and Buxton. You are living in a fantasy world!!
Yeah, no.
Both sides. Except for the Phillies side.
You are overvaluing Crawford. He is an ok level prospect who would not be a top prospect in many other orgs. In the MN system he would probably slot in 5th
I get that you guys are told that your prospects are all Hall of Fame bound, but realistically, if Crawford and Painter were in the Dodgers org, and ranked in their org lists accordingly, the deal would be a no brainer. You’d be acquiring the org’s 3 and 8 ranked players
He’s literally ranked 44th in MLB, but cool. No one’s calling him a Hall of Famer.
They would be the Dodgers’ 1st and 4th ranked prospects. And it isn’t about thinking Crawford is going to be a star, it’s about his projectability as at least an average starter, to above average, at a very low cost with several years of control. For Harrison Bader who is basically a rental ($1.5m buyout of a mutual $10m option) who is having an OK season.
Bwa
Maybe throw in Correa and Bohm.
Mick Abel and Griffin Jax.
Go crazy folks! Go crazy!
I mean if you’re taking the Correa contract…
Let’s add the Phillies bad contracts to the deal. Nick and Taijuan, see ya!!!
Subtract Crawford and maybe.
You need to be institutionalized, in a straight-jacket, handcuffed hands and feet, with four heavily armed guards just for suggesting that Bader would get you Painter plus anything back, much less even Painter. The Phillies wouldn’t give you Painters used-jock for Bader!!!
Castro has been traded, he was pulled off the field and is hugging everyone.
Mariners?
toy – A few teams want him, including Mariners and Astros. We’ll find out soon.
Jeff Passan told me yesterday that some freaks out there hug friends.
Yeah, I thought so too but multiple sources on twitter saying no. Jeff Passan included. Seemed strange seeing him leave the game like that without there being something to it.
Dan Hayes said he has not been traded. Hayes would know
Looks like lots of fans are hoping for Duran. So much disappointment…
I’d much rather deal for Stewart than give up anything close to a top 100 prospect for a RP.
Clemens giving up bombs ….. and people wonder why the Sox have a high-ranked offense. LOL!
Rafaela is visibily upset he got “only” a single after consecutive homeruns to Romy and Yoshida.
I think Detroits out on Duran because he’s strictly a closer and I’m not sure AJ wants that. Jax on the other hand… If available.
The extra wildcard was the worst thing to ever happen to the hot stove deadline season. Buyers markets make for more interesting deadlines overall.
I know he was dying but also f Pete Seidler for dealing that prospect package to rent Tanner Scott. Got everyone and their mom thinking relievers have this insane value when compared to hitters or starters.
I don’t know if it’s sad or insanely hilarious that it’s being considered “good business” to ask a team for the best or second best pitching prospect in all of baseball plus other pieces for 1 reliever.
A prospect on the level of someone like Painter and other top prospects are what you trade for a star. A Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, Vlad Jr. not a closer, I don’t care how hard Duran throws a fastball.
@ jumps; just insane IMO.
Relievers come & go typically.
Top ten mlb prospect only get traded for controllable young hitters or pitchers. A closer doesn’t have the value to ask for that type of return. Miller or Crawford are top 50 overall prospects currently is probably more of the headliner zone for a closer, even a good one. I don’t see the precedent for a painter type
Of return but guess we’ll see in next 24 hrs
Why would the Twins use Jax in a 9-1 game today? Remarkably stupid idea.
I’m wondering if MN is looking to unload Correa as part of a larger deal. He has 3 guaranteed $30 mil+ plus 4 vesting years to go on his current contract.. A team willing to take that on may drive the prospect cost down a bit, since their current ask seems unrealistic.
Just take Coulombe and then go get a Bender or 2. Even (relatively) cheap additions would exponentially improve the Phillies’ bullpen. They have one high leverage arm at the moment (Kerkering), and only one other that can be trusted at all (Banks). Strahm will be batting practice in the postseason
Odd stance about a guy (Strahm) has a 1.86 postseason ERA.
If I’m the Phillies Painter is untouchable. Teams are asking way too much for a reliever.
Ask the cubs who traded for Chapmen and won a ws
If only there was an example in baseball history of a team trading for a reliever and *NOT* winning a World Series….
Alas, Chapman to the Cubs is the only example so I guess we’ll never know.
Don’t worry, Painter is “untouchable”. D D wouldn’t have done something that stupid when he was 6 years old!!
Die hard Twins fan here. The Phillies are one of my favorite teams from the NL. But, with 2.5 years of control for Duran. I think Painter has to be on the table. That’s gonna be a tough pill for Philly to swallow. But, I think Duran has to be the most sought after controllable reliever on the market. And, this market is crazy right now. If you get 5 or 6 teams involved let’s see what happens. Me personally I would rather keep Duran. He’s awesome!
I don’t think the Phillies need him that badly.
And if Duran can fetch this type of package I as a pirates fan can not wait until Bednar is moved
If it cost Painter for Duran. The Phillies should be out. Painter imo is a guy who headlines a deal for Juan Soto or Betts like trades. Not a reliever who might pitch 50 games a year compared to a star position player who has a impact every game.
Elite closer and pen guys are extremely important in the playoffs. We saw teams have pen games in the playoffs
I’m not disagreeing that the bullpen is extremely important. Just not giving up a potential number 1 pitcher for a reliever. Wheeler is 35 and only planning to play a few more years. Painter is his replacement. Anyone else in the farm should be available.
Duran is important. I don’t think some of the young fans here understand how highly rated Painter is. A combination of Duran, Buxton and Jax, still would come up short.
Would love to see what they get for him, considering the Mets gave up so much for Rogers
If I were Dombrowski I’d add a mid reliever like Colombe, Eugenio Suarez and call it good. They have Alvarado back soon, albeit not in the playoffs, Robertson and a bunch of young and veteran starters who could throw gas for an inning in October.
The Phillies need a closer, but it doesn’t have to be Duran.
If the Rogers deal is an indication of reliever costs and rumored price for Duran is accurate I hope the Tigers steer clear.
Think Duran is headed to the Phillies with INF W. Castro for Andrew Painter.
Phillies should go with someone like Kyle Finnegan or Ryan Hesley. 2 month rentals, will be a lot less of a capital cost, and still gets you a quality arm that can pitch in the postseason. And then you save Painter for either someone else (how about Mason Miller?? I still think Philly says no, but would the Athletics say no too??), or use him out of the bullpen ala the Rays with David Price in 2007/08.
Also, I know this isn’t happening now since he just hit the IL, but hypothetically speaking let’s add Buxton to the package, so now it’s Duran & Buxton for Painter?? Who says no to this?? Both?? Neither?? IMO, I think the Twins would gladly take this, not sure the Phillies would, but a better chance than just Duran.
The Phillies would not. Painter is a complete waste of time to even talk about.
For some reason, to me, this screams Rangers. Walcott + ? gets it done?
Phillies acquire Jhoan Duran
Twins should not trade him except for 2 top 5 prospects from a team one of whom must be a power pitching prospect