The 2025 MLB trade deadline has come and gone. The Philadelphia Phillies made additions to positions of need — their bullpen and outfield. Members of the roster, along with local and national media, praised the front office for acquiring closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins on July 30.
ESPN's Baseball Tonight Live host Buster Olney and analysts Jeff Passan and Tim Kurkjian discussed the impact of the Duran acquisition. The Phillies traded for the reliever in exchange for two top-10 prospects: catcher Eduardo Tait (No. 4) and starting pitcher Mick Abel (No. 6). The move is another example of Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski living up to his reputation of making blockbuster deals in exchange for top prospects.
ESPN's Jeff Passan and Tim Kurkjian commend the Phillies for acquiring Jhoan Duran
Kurkjian explained why he gave the Phillies an "A" for their bullpen upgrade at the trade deadline.
"Of all the relievers that moved, they got the best one. Jhoan Duran is overpowering," Kurkjian said. "And more important, he's exactly what they needed. The [San Diego] Padres' didn't need a closer, but they got a closer. The [New York] Mets didn't need a closer, but they got another closer. The Phillies had to add a closer here. And Jhoan Duran throws 100 miles an hour. He's overpowering. He's exactly what the Phillies needed and they got him without giving up Andrew Painter. Classic David Dombrowski with his trade deadline."
The Mets and the Padres added more bullpen depth overall than the Phillies at the trade deadline. Duran is the kind of impact reliever Philadelphia needed to add due to the deals their National League competitors made (subscription required), according to The Athletic.
Duran finished 15th among closers with 27 saves in 2023 with a solid 2.45 ERA in 59 games. The 27-year-old pitched in 58 contests in 2024 and finished with a 3.64 ERA. His 23 saves tied David Bednar and Camilo Doval for 14th-best among relievers.
The Esperanza, Dominican Republic, native's 17 saves this season (including Friday's electric performance) are tied for the 10th most in the majors. He now has a 1.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 50 1/3 innings on the year.
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Olney emphasized the club's urgency in trying to win a World Series. Passan provided further logic for Philadelphia's addition of Duran.
"That's exactly what they are trying to do," Passan said of the Phillies going for the World Series. "You understand why [the Phillies] are trying to do it. Bryce Harper is not getting any younger. Kyle Schwarber is a free agent after this season. J.T. Realmuto is a free agent after this season."
Passan also mentioned the role the Mets played in the Phillies' aggressiveness in getting a legitimate closer: "The fact that the Mets and the Phillies were going head-to-head, dueling reliever moves. I love the National League East. The [Atlanta] Braves are not in it this year [but] we've got the Phillies and we've got the Mets, and it's going to be wonderful."
New York boosted its bullpen with the additions of Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley in the days leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. Both the Mets and Phillies added to their outfield position as well. New York acquired Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia traded for Harrison Bader in a separate deal with the Twins.
To echo Passan's comments, it will indeed be interesting to see how the race for the NL East plays out. The Phillies will be looking to avenge their defeat to their division rival if the teams meet again in the playoffs for a consecutive season this fall.