Insiders Suggest Two Landing Spots for Twins Trade Candidates

We’re still a couple of days away from the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Minnesota Twins started their selloff by moving Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers on Monday. They’re expected to keep going, and former general manager Jim Bowden thinks they’ll be plenty busy.

For Derek Falvey to get significant value he’ll need to part with controllable assets. Starting pitcher Joe Ryan would command an absolute haul. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax will return plenty as well, but they are bullpen arms.

Multiple suitors have been rumored in the leadup to the deadline. We’ve already seen a blockbuster that Bowden would like to see happen. There are a couple of new intriguing proposed landing spots on the radar as well.

Minnesota Twins deal with the Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are a team that Bowden has said have been in contact with the Minnesota Twins. They could use relief help as well as something on the position player front. ESPN’s Paul “Hembo” Hembekides says Minnesota is exactly where they should turn. He’s calling for them to acquire Griffin Jax and Willi Castro.

“The Phillies’ need for a reliever is well-documented — Jordan Romano has pitched to a 6.99 ERA and Jose Alvarado is ineligible for the postseason because of his PED suspension. Jax’s underlying metrics (40.7% chase rate, 39.7% whiff rate, 36.9% strikeout rate) are cartoonishly good and suggest his 3.91 ERA is artificially inflated.

Philadelphia’s need for another bat is likewise acute: Since May 1, second baseman Bryson Stott (60 wRC+) and left fielder Max Kepler (72 wRC+) have been among baseball’s worst regulars at the plate. Not only has Castro posted an above-average batting line in each of the past three seasons (105 OPS+ over that span) but the utility player has also logged more than 300 innings this season in both the infield and the outfield.”

Paul Hembekides – ESPN

If the Phillies were to acquire Jax and Castro they’d join former Twins teammate Max Kepler. Although Jax has a higher ERA (3.91) than his teammate Jhoan Duran (2.01), he owns a lower FIP (2.00) and xFIP (1.71). His 1.5 fWAR also bests Duran’s 1.2.

At 30 years old Jax has presumably less future upside than the 27-year-old Duran. However, with how good his stuff is (especially the sweeper) he’s going to generate a nice return.

Griffin Jax, Wicked Sweepers…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/MEteME6Hkm

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2025

Castro, unlike Jax, is an impending free agent. The 28-year-old has an identical 108 OPS+ this year as he did in 2024 as an All-Star. His .252/.343/.418 slash line is above the .247/.331/.385 mark from last season. He can play the infield or outfield and is an ideal trade acquisition.

Related: Top Contenders Blowing MN Twins Up Over Trade Assets

Including Jax would up the return from Philadelphia as it’s not just a rental situation. Andrew Painter, the Phillies top prospect, is probably off the table. Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford, and Edouard Tait should all be part of the discussion though.

New York Yankees a fit for MN Twins too

If the Twins are going to trade controllable assets then Jax and fellow leverage arm Jhoan Duran are the most likely. Duran could be the most impactful reliever moved on the market Tristan Cockroft is calling for the New York Yankees to do the deal.

“Minnesota sends the right-hander to New York in exchange for starting pitcher Carlos Lagrange and second baseman Roc Riggio. The Yankees are sorely in need of bullpen help: Among their top five relievers from the Opening Day roster, two have underperformed expectations (Devin Williams and Luke Weaver) and two are sidelined with long-term injuries (Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr.). They rank 21st in bullpen ERA (4.25).

Acquiring Duran will be costly — Lagrange has a similarly filthy fastball to Duran’s and has been dominating in Double-A (2.35 ERA, 38.8 K% in his past six starts) — but why not go big when you’re a defending league champion in need? Duran, with his 100 mph heater, presents a nice contrast in styles to Williams’ Airbender and Weaver’s rising fastball. Remember, a dominant bullpen was critical to the Yankees’ playoff run last year — theirs had a 2.67 postseason ERA”

Tristan Cockroft – ESPN

Duran might be the arm to net Minnesota more, even if Jax winds up being the better pickup. The Yankees need bullpen help and Cockroft is confident that Duran can provide it.

Minnesota’s closer is having arguably the best season of his career. He owns a 2.01 ERA (2.48 FIP) and still strikes out batters in droves despite slightly diminished velocity. He’d quickly become New York’s top relief arm and the franchise doesn’t look to make the playoffs and not win.

Lagrange is ranked as the 94th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, and second in the Yankees system. Riggio is the 10th prospect for New York. Maybe George Lombard Jr. is a non-starter (29th in MLB), but he’s someone Minnesota would be wise to ask on.

Related: One Player the MN Twins are Supposedly Trading

Where Jax, Castro, and Duran go prior to Thursday’s deadline remains to be seen. It does seem like at least two of them will be moved though.