The MLB trade deadline is truly like Christmas in July for many baseball fans. Those who root for contenders like the Philadelphia Phillies are eager to see how their team will improve by the July 31 deadline. It's no secret that the Phillies' biggest need is effective late-inning relief help.
They've been said to have been scouting the Minnesota Twins' two top relievers, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. Minnesota understandably has been asking for a steep return for one of the arms from their relief duo, and these mock trades should get things done between the two clubs.
Phillies will need to include two Top 100 prospects to acquire Duran or Jax from the Twins
The 27-year-old Duran is the bigger name between the two and is excelling to the tune of a 1.86 ERA and 16 saves for the Twins this season. Jax, 30, has been Duran's setup man and has posted a 4.00 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 45 innings pitched. The controllability of each of the right-handers being under contract until 2028 raises their value to the point of Minnesota asking for multiple Top 100 prospects, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has a reputation for dealing top prospects to patch his teams' holes at the deadline, something he hasn't done too often during his tenure in Philadelphia. This deadline, only Andrew Painter appears to be off-limits among the Phillies' six MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects.
The Phillies could include Mick Abel in a swap with the Twins, as he's an MLB-ready talent who has experience both in the rotation and out of the bullpen. Abel is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Phillies' No. 6 prospect and No. 92 in baseball. The 23-year-old right-hander has put together a strong season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with a 2.81 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 74 innings.
Abel already has some MLB experience, thanks to his six-start stint with the Phillies. Despite how his brief stay ended with a 5.04 ERA, the former first-round pick flashed the upside that could entice teams to bite at the deadline. He would likely have to be included in a trade for whichever of the Twins' relievers the Phillies like more.
The Phillies are likely more reluctant to part with No. 3 prospect Justin Crawford, whose play at the plate has him knocking on the door of joining their outfield. In a Duran trade, the Phillies could include Abel and catcher Eduardo Tait, the No. 4 prospect in their organization. Tait ranks No. 56 in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 and is hitting .252/.318/.435 over 81 games at Single- and High-A so far in 2025.
Tait has some of the highest upside of any prospect at the catcher position, and he represented the Phillies at the All-Star Futures Game earlier this month. It's been speculated that the win-now Phillies could be more open to deal Tait, due to the 18-year-old being at least a few more full seasons away from helping the team in the majors.
For Jax, they could package Abel alongside a lower minors-level prospect like infielder Aroon Escobar, who's also still a handful of years away from contributing at the MLB level. The Phillies' No. 5 prospect, and No. 86 overall, is still just 20. He's slashing .279/.367/.436 with 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 83 games between Single- and High-A this season.
It can be difficult for a deadline buyer to say goodbye to young, homegrown talent every summer, but that's the reality of baseball's trade deadline. Teams like the Phillies may have to overpay in desperation, depending on that year's market.
The asking price for Duran and Jax was already steep, but now even more so with the league placing Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase on leave while they investigate him for his possible involvement in sports betting. Relievers are always the most sought-after position at the deadline, and let's hope the Phillies perhaps overpay a little for the right guy to shut the door on the way to a World Series championship.