Trade grades: Phillies acquire Twins closer Jhoan Duran

On Wednesday evening, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran for top prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel. 

The Phillies get a bona fide top-five closer in the league. For the Twins, they receive a big-league-ready arm in Abel (formerly the Phillies' No. 6-ranked prospect), who has swing-and-miss stuff. Minnesota also adds Tait (formerly the Phillies' No. 4-ranked prospect), a catcher with a cannon for an arm and electric power potential from the left-handed side.

Duran has a 2.01 ERA this season with 16 saves and a 1.176 WHIP, having allowed only one home run in the 2025 season. For those unfamiliar with the fireballer, he throws a 100 MPH fastball and a 98 MPH splitter, as well as a sweeper and a curveball. Duran also has two and a half years of team control remaining, which shows that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is investing and Duran is not just a rental.

Phillies fans can finally rejoice, as they now have their closer, one who will handle the eighth and ninth innings. Philadelphia will no longer have to rely on a closer-by-committee approach, previously led by lefty Matt Strahm and righty Orion Kerkering. Dombrowski has been looking for a permanent solution at closer ever since Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80 games — and the playoffs — for violating the league's PED policy.

Phillies: B+

Dombrowski did well by not completely hemorrhaging the Phillies’ future, only giving up prospects No. 4 and No. 6. Losing Tait hurts a bit, as the Phillies now lack a clear heir apparent to veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto. The good news is that Philadelphia has an abundance of starting pitching, and parting with Abel — rather than top prospect Andrew Painter, who is slated to join the big-league rotation next year—was a smart call.

Abel had a historic start, not allowing any runs in his first 10 innings, but he ran into trouble once big-league hitters began figuring him out. Retaining Painter, as well as other top prospects like Justin Crawford (No. 3) and Aidan Miller (No. 2), was a big win. 

However, the loss of Tait is ultimately why this move doesn't earn an A.

Twins: C+

Minnesota parts ways with one of the best players in recent memory. While Duran was never an All-Star, he was widely regarded as one of the best closers in the sport. With the Twins sitting at a mediocre 51–57, it makes sense to trade a top asset at peak value.

The return, however, is a mixed bag. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll could have aimed higher, especially considering that the Athletics received the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, 18-year-old Leo De Vries, in a deal with the Padres for All-Star closer Mason Miller. Minnesota might have been able to hold out for one of Philadelphia’s top three prospects.

Still, the trade has upside. Tait is just 18 years old and already in High-A. He possesses 60-grade power and a 60-grade arm and is projected to reach the majors by 2028—potentially sooner if he continues to impress.

Minnesota also adds Abel, who addresses its need for starting pitching behind current ace Joe Ryan. With a coaching staff that developed Ryan into a frontline starter, Abel should be in good hands as he adjusts to big-league competition.