The Philadelphia Phillies have been among Major League Baseball’s top teams this season and look poised to make a serious push for the World Series. With just one game remaining before the All-Star break, they trail the New York Mets by only half a game in a tight NL East race.
This sets the stage for a competitive trade deadline, as the Phillies, Mets, and other contenders across the league aim to strengthen their rosters for the playoff stretch.
Philadelphia already boasts one of the strongest starting rotations in baseball, but the bullpen remains an area in need of reinforcement. As the deadline nears, the Phillies have been linked to Minnesota Twins relievers —though they aren’t the only team interested. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
“The Philadelphia Phillies have been heavily scouting Twins relievers, hoping to land at least one of them. The Twins are also drawing significant attention from the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cincinnati Reds.”
Duran has been dominant this year, posting a 1.49 ERA across 43 appearances. He’s struck out 47 batters while issuing only 16 walks in 42.1 innings, making him a potentially game-changing addition to the Phillies’ bullpen.
Jax hasn’t been as sharp, carrying a 4.02 ERA through 43 outings, but he remains a reliable option who could provide quality middle-relief innings for Philadelphia.
The Twins, meanwhile, find themselves at a crossroads. They sit in second place in the AL Central but are 11.5 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers and three games out of a Wild Card spot. As a result, Minnesota will have to decide whether to make a postseason push or begin looking toward the future by moving key assets.
If the Twins opt to sell, the Phillies should act quickly to land one of these bullpen arms and further solidify their roster for a deep playoff run.