CHICAGO — The stakes are high, and the Phillies are acting like it.
They are trading top 100 prospects Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait to Minnesota for closer Jhoan Duran, sources told MLB.com on Wednesday. The club has not confirmed the deal.
Duran, 27, significantly improves a bullpen that has been a weakness since the beginning of the season and the front office’s top priority heading into Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline.
The Phillies are still pursuing a right-handed bat to help their inconsistent offense, sources said. They still have the prospects and the time to make it happen.
TRADE DETAILS
Phils receive: RHP Jhoan Duran
Twins receive: C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel
But Duran should make the ninth inning less hairy. The hard-throwing right-hander is 6-4 with a 2.01 ERA and 16 saves this season. His four-seam fastball averages 100.2 mph. He throws a splitter, curveball and sweeper, generating swings and misses, strikeouts and plenty of ground balls.
He also isn’t a rental. Duran is under team control through the 2027 season, which explains why Philadelphia parted with Tait and Abel to get him.
Tait (No. 56 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline) was recently promoted to High-A Jersey Shore. He turns 19 on Aug. 27. He is an excellent hitter with big-time power potential, but he needs time to develop, especially behind the plate.
Abel (No. 92) returned to the Top 100 list following a big bounce-back season this year. He made a scintillating big league debut on May 18 (nine strikeouts, no walks in six scoreless innings). He went 2-2 with a 5.04 ERA in six starts before being sent back to Triple-A, but he has pitched well recently for the IronPigs.
If Abel gets it together, he could be good.
But the Phillies don’t have time to wait. They want to win the World Series this year, especially with Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez set to become free agents, and the core in their early 30s.
The Phillies entered this season hoping right-handers Jordan Romano and Joe Ross could help replace Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez, who left in free agency. But Romano has struggled and is not pitching in as many high-leverage situations anymore. Ross has struggled, too. He is on the injured list, but he could be back Tuesday.
José Alvarado is nearing the end of an 80-game suspension for PEDs. He is expected back on Aug. 19, although he is ineligible for the postseason.
So, over the next few weeks, the Phillies will welcome Duran, Robertson and Alvarado to the bullpen. They will join left-handers Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks and right-hander Orion Kerkering.
It leaves two spots in the eight-man bullpen. There is Romano and Ross, of course. Taijuan Walker could take a spot, once Aaron Nola rejoins the rotation in the middle of August. The Phillies will move at least one starter into the bullpen in the postseason — maybe earlier — because they will not need five starters.
Jesús Luzardo could be that guy because of his stuff.
Time will tell, of course.
For now, the Phillies only know their bullpen is better today than it was yesterday. Duran can pitch the ninth, and eventually Phillies manager Rob Thomson can mix and match Alvarado, Robertson, Strahm, Kerkering and Banks in the innings leading to it.
