High Chance Minnesota Twins Trade Coveted Flamethrower?

The 2025 calendar is quickly approaching July, meaning the Major League Baseball trade deadline (July 31) is just over a month out. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get a read on the freefalling Minnesota Twins — who currently sit below .500, at 37-41 — whose play on the field recently has them looking a lot more like sellers these days, than buyers.

Don’t tell that to team president Derek Falvey, who’s recently went on record to make it clear that the Twins have no interest (right now) in being sellers at the deadline. We also know that they aren’t trading away any stars, without permission.

Wait… the Minnesota Twins are how likely to trade Jhoan Duran?

But even if they don’t go into full garage sale mode at 1 Twins Way, it appears chatter is picking up around league circles when it comes to one high-powered reliever in the Minnesota bullpen whose contract is running out of term and someone who would most certainly net an impressive trade deadline return.

Over at ESPN a pair of prominent insiders — Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel — put together their top 50 trade candidates list, which just released Tuesday morning at the four-letter network. There, at No. 12 is Minnesota Twins flamethrowing closer, Jhoan Duran.

Way more shocking than Duran showing up on this list, are his 40% chance of being dealt. That is tied for fourth highest odds of anyone on the list, ranked inside the top 15. — Sandy Alcantara (Mia) 60% | Eugenio Suarez (ARI) 50% | Ryan O’Hearn (BAL) 85%.

12. Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins

Chance of trade: 40%

Duran is one of the best relievers in the sport, thanks to his nasty stuff headlined by a fastball that averages 100.2 mph and a splinker that sits at 97.5 mph. He has two more years of team control after this season, so he’d demand a big trade package.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas

ESPN

Related: Sounds Like the MN Twins are Stuck with Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa

The teams that Passan and McDaniel suggested as fits for Duran include the Dodgers, Phillies, Braves, Diamondbacks, and Rangers. That group is interesting as Atlanta currently has a worse record than Minnesota (36-41), and the expect the 40-38 Diamondbacks to listen on Suarez.

Watch out for those LA Dodgers…

The teams I would keep the closest eye on are the big swingers — AKA: the Los Angeles Dodgers — who might be on the lookout for a back-end bullpen piece to set them apart in a World Series race.

On top being a big money team who would naturally have an interest in a reliever like Duran, it’s also worth noting LA’s previous interest in the the Minnesota Twins’ 27-year-old righty, when Falvey was listening to offers on Duran at last year’s deadline.

Jhoan Duran, 88mph Curveball, 98mph Splinker and 102mph Fastball. 😳 pic.twitter.com/lQyICqvMAk

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 16, 2025

This year Duran has been pitching at the top of his game, posting a 1.57 ERA (2.03 FIP) with 39 strikeouts and an impossibly high 269 ERA+. Jhoan Duran’s 34.1 innings pitched in 2025 have produced arguably the best season of his career, to this point.

While Duran’s velocity has dipped some, he’s been able to counter that by utilizing his “secondary” pitches more effectively, including his curveball, sweeper and that oh so devastating splinker. Minnesota is paying Duran $4.13 million this year, but he’s scheduled to hit free agency after the 2026 season.

And let’s be serious, the Pohlads aren’t going to pay a high-priced bullpen pitcher. Hell, Falvey doesn’t ask him to pay relievers, no matter how good they are. Thus, whether it is at the trade deadline, during the offseason or in 2026, Jhoan Duran will be wearing a different Major League Baseball uniform, eventually.

It’s just a matter of when. And if you believe these very trusted ESPN insiders, it’s very plausible it happens sooner than later.