There is an interesting conundrum for Major League Baseball as the Trade Deadline approaches. With there being a need for pitching across the board, there aren’t many identified sellers.
Most of baseball, if not leading their division, remain a part of the conversation in the respective Wild-Card races, and that is leading to teams in the middle when it comes to the direction they should take at the deadline.
The Minnesota Twins are one of the main teams that come to mind.
Despite free-falling to start June, the Twins enter the weekend less than 3 games out of the final Wild-Card spot in the American League.
That is one of the reasons why Derek Falvey isn’t ready to commit to a selling approach for the deadline.
The indecisiveness from teams like the Twins is complicating the trade market from being established.
As teams look for improvements to their bullpen, chances are they would love to get their hands on Jhoan Duran, as Jon Heyman mentioned in the New York Post.
“The bullpen market could be better stocked — though for now there’s no guarantee any of Ryan Helsley, Jhoan Duran, Emmanuel Clase, Aroldis Chapman, Robert Suarez, Kyle Finnegan, Félix Bautista, Carlos Estévez, Kenley Jansen, David Bednar or Shelby Miller will be dealt,” Heyman added in his latest rumor roundup.
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Duran would be the key case study for the Twins and their deadline approach. If the Twins are planning on contending next season, it would make very little sense to move Duran.
Duran has emerged as one of the best closers in the American League this season and is under team control until 2028.
For a team that has sniffed contention over recent seasons, moving Duran doesn’t quite add up.
That said, there is going to be a premium paid by teams for pitching at the deadline.
If a team is willing enough, the Twins could be compelled to move Duran for the right package of talent that could help them beyond this season. It’s an uncomfortable spot that Twins fans find themselves in, but one that the team’s struggles in June dictate.
