The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal to acquire star closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Wednesday.
Duran was one of the most coveted relievers on the trade market ahead of Thursday’s deadline, with a host of teams looking to add him.
Philadelphia won out, sending catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel, both prospects, to Minnesota in return, sources said. Tait and Abel are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, among the Phillies’ minor league prospects, per ESPN.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Duran, an All-Star this season, is one of the best relievers in the sport, thanks to his nasty stuff headlined by a fastball that averages 100.3 mph, a splinker that sits at 97.5 mph and a curveball to keep hitters off balance. The right-hander also has two more years of team control after this season.
Duran, 27, hasn’t given up a home run this season, and his 1.66 ERA ranked sixth among MLB pitchers with at least 43 innings at the All-Star break.