The Phillies finally added a legitimate closer to the roster but the price tag was steep. Right-hander Jhoan Duran will join the Phillies bullpen from the Minnesota Twins, who will be receiving two of baseball’s Top 100 Prospects in exchange. Pitcher Mick Abel and catcher Eduardo Tait were sent to the Twins to get the deal done.

In Duran, 27, has 74 saves in 83 chances over four seasons in the majors with Minnesota and a career 2.47 ERA. In 233.2 innings of work, Duran has 292 strikeouts to his credit thanks in large part to a fastball that sits at or above 100 miles per hour. According to Statcast, Duran has thrown more pitches – 1,284 – at or above the 100 mph mark than any other active pitcher in the majors. Mason Miller is a distant second with 819 pitches at the century mark in miles per hour. Duran also has an attractive 63.2% groundball rate. This season, Duran is 6-4 with a 2.01 ERA and 16 saves in 49 games.

Until recently, Minnesota was undecided about dealing Duran and fellow reliever Griffin Jax. If one was to be dealt, it was thought that Jax would be the one to go since he is older – 30 – and is a free agent following the season. The Phillies reportedly set their sights on Duran and were first told it would take top prospect starting pitcher Andrew Painter to get a deal done. The Phillies refused to make Painter available and sent Abel and Tait in exchange.

Abel was up earlier this season with the Phillies before being demoted after posting a 5.04 ERA in six starts. He was returned to Triple-A to “rebuild his confidence” and responded by winning the International League Pitcher of the Week Award earlier this month. With Lehigh Valley this season, Abel, who turns 24 in August, was 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 13 starts at Triple-A.

The Phillies drafted Abel with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 Draft.

Tait is hitting a combined 11-57-.255/.319/.434 in a total of 82 games – 75 at Low-A Clearwater and seven at High-A Jersey Shore, having just been promoted recently. Soon to be 19, Tait had become the youngest player at Jersey Shore since the team was moved from Low-A to High-A in 2021. Defensively, Tait has compiled a .987 fielding percentage in 111 games behind the plate in the minors and has thrown out 34% of would be base stealers.

Minnesota has assigned Abel to Triple-A St. Paul, but with a rash of injuries to their pitching staff, he could soon resurface as part of the Twins major league rotation. Tait was assigned to High-A Cedar Rapids.

The Phillies had set obtaining controllable players as a priority for this year’s trade deadline. Duran is eligible for arbitration following this season and will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season. The Phillies also had some interest in Minnesota outfielders Willi Castro and Harrison Bader, but both are eligible for free agency following this season.