Dodgers Balking at Price of Minnesota Twins Relievers

The Minnesota Twins are among the MLB’s 2025 trade deadline sellers, but there are some assets at their Target Field yard sale that are more available than others. When it comes to their six-pack of impending free agents, they’re ready to deal as soon as they get some serious offers.

If potential trade partners want to pry away their most intriguing assets, names like Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Joe Ryan — all of whom are under Twins control through 2027 — Derek Falvey has made it clear those teams will have to bring an offer to the negotiating table that’s so good, they may very well regret it down the road.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one team that has reportedly been poking around on the Twins’ pitching talent, which looked great during a 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday. But at least for now, according to Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic) they cannot get past Minnesota’s crazy high asking prices on Jhoan Duran.

Jhoan Duran too rich for Los Angeles Dodgers

“The Los Angeles Dodgers do not want to overpay for reliever volatility when they’re already living through reliever volatility. So, it seems doubtful they will pay sticker price for a late-inning type such as the Cleveland Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase or Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran, assuming those pitchers are even traded.”

Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic

Duran sits atop the MLB trade market, at just 27 years old, making only $4.13 million and under team control for two more full seasons. Thus, the Dodgers think he could be the answer to their Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates’ woes.

This offseason the Dodgers spent handsomely on their bullpen. Brusdar Graterol, Tanner Scott, Evan Phillips, and Blake Treinen are all hurt. Yates was an expensive ($13 million) acquisition, but has been mediocre.

Jhoan Duran, 102mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/bgmluPYopm

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 26, 2025

Duran (or Jax for that matter) would immediately be the highest-leverage reliever in Dave Roberts’ bullpen. The problem is that Los Angeles would again be paying the freight for bullpen help. After they did that this offseason and haven’t seen it bear fruit, it’s hard to move prospect capital to make it happen.

Related: Minnesota Twins Demanding Insane Return for Talented Relievers

The Twins closer is having one of the best seasons of his career. He owns a 1.90 ERA with a 52/16 K/BB across 47 1/3 innings. Los Angeles should want every part of that, but if it costs them a pair of top 100 prospects as Minnesota has asked, it’s probably a non-starter.

There’s a possibility the Twins look to decrease the asking price as Thursday’s trade deadline draws closer. There is no reason to believe an acquiring team won’t hurt a bit though when bringing the established high-leverage arms aboard.

Could MN Twins work something out for Duran with Dodgers?

It’s possible that the Minnesota Twins find a path forward regarding Duran or Jax by including additional talent. Asking a team to pay for relief help is a bit difficult. If there are multiple arms though, or another talent included, it gets a bit more logical.

Former general manager Jim Bowden called for the MN Twins to pull off a massive blockbuster with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That deal included Minnesota’s two best relievers as well as Willi Castro. That’s arguably the cream of the crop that could realistically be moved by Derek Falvey.

Related: Former GM Calls for Twins to Complete Blockbuster

It remains to be seen if Minnesota ends up moving their controllable assets. There’s little reason to think that they will get much in terms of prospect capital for their impending free agents. If they want to shake up the roster, and make a move of consequence, this may be the way to go about it.