One Trade-Target Relief Pitcher the Yankees Could Benefit From

Jhoan Duran May Be on the Trade Block 

The Minnesota Twins are inching their way out of any chance at a divisional run. They sit in fourth place in the American League Central and are 10 games behind the top spot. The Twins are 5.5 games out of a wild-card seed.

This could potentially make the club sellers before the trade deadline on Thursday, July 31st. Duran holds great value in this trade market, and his stock has risen based on the Emmanuel Clase situation. 

The Cleveland Guardians closer, Clase, was placed on paid administrative leave due to a gambling investigation. He was one of the top names on the bump in this trade deadline market. Clase has a two-year club option left and was likely to be dealt. 

This would have been another solid option for the Yankees to pursue, other than Duran. With Clase sidelined, the price to get Duran has skyrocketed. Duran is in his final year of his contract on pre-arbitration. 

He faces arbitration again next year, and his price may be more than Minnesota is willing to spend. The right-handed closer may be able to assist a contending team in the late innings. 

What Duran Would Offer the Yankees Bullpen

The Yankees have been struggling with the quality of their bullpen, and their back-end staff is also questionable. Luke Weaver is the current listed closer for the Bronx Bombers. Although Weaver has shown good traits and effectiveness, he’s still a novice.

So far, Weaver has a 3.18 ERA with eight saves. The Yankees off-season purchase, Devin Williams, was brought in as a closer, but consistent struggles shifted him out of the role, and into more of a set-up role. 

Williams is working himself back into dominance, as he currently has 16 saves, despite the 4.58 ERA. Both of these pitchers are valuable to the bullpen; however, the elite-level closer traits are not exactly present right now. 

Duran brings heat with a 104-mph max fastball, ranging between 97-99 mph, and usually sitting at a higher consistency of 101 mph. He also has a sweeper, split-finger, and knuckle-curve within his pitch mix. 

He’s struck out 52 hitters this season, only walking 16. Duran ranks amongst the top 15 closers in the league, possessing 16 saves, a 2.01 ERA, and a .219 batting average against. 

Duran could be a huge addition to the bullpen, especially in a contending situation for the Yankees in the American League East.