Twins Reliever Fakes Out Trade Watchers (Video)

We are now less than 48 hours from the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Minnesota Twins started their selloff on Monday by sending Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers.

Derek Falvey still has more pieces to move, and reports have suggested contenders are calling on everyone. The high leverage relief arms may be the best pieces that Minnesota deals. Those guys have to hear the rumors getting louder as well.

Jhoan Duran pitched on Monday night in Minnesota’s walk-off win against Boston. Early on during Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox, he played with the emotions of everyone looking for him to swap teams.

Jhoan Duran with a viral hug for Minnesota Twins

Players are often traded while a game is taking place. Minnesota doesn’t need to wait until after Tuesday’s contest to pull the trigger on a deal that would capitalize on Jhoan Duran’s trade value. He hasn’t been dealt yet though, he just tricked everyone into thinking he was.

Jhoan Duran was seen on the broadcast getting a hug and leaving the bullpen 👀 pic.twitter.com/nFw7DH4DAZ

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 30, 2025

Jhoan Duran has not been traded. He was just hugging his bullpen catcher because that's what friends do sometimes.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2025

As insider Jeff Passan notes, Duran’s hug with bullpen catcher Frank Nigro was just two guys being dudes. Nigro looked to get a little grab of the booty in the process as well. That doesn’t mean the moment didn’t send the baseball world into a frenzy.

Said one person with the #MNTwins: "I think (Jhoan Duran) hugged Frank – like he always does."

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 30, 2025

JUST IN: Jhoan Duran loves a good hug. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/P9oViUaCq0

— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) July 30, 2025

Duran definitely didn’t know the camera was going to be on him in that moment. However, there is probably not a hug that will take place during a game in the next couple of days and not be caught by the broadcast.

The 27-year-old closer owns a 2.01 ERA (2.48 FIP) across 49 1/3 innings this season. He is under team control through 2027 and is making just $4.13 million this season.

Although Duran wasn’t giving out hugs indicating a trade yet, it still remains possible he does by the close of business on Thursday.