This is a bit of a surprise.

Things haven’t gone as planned for the Minnesota Twins in 2025, and now as they continue to lose ground to the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers and fade from the AL Wild Card race an MLB insider’s survey of baseball executives predicts two critical Twins relievers are likely to be on the move at the deadline.

Both Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax made the list of relievers most likely to be on the move, a surprising turn of events given that neither hit free agency until 2028.

Duran has been superhuman this year, ranking eighth among big league relievers with a 1.64 mark through July 3 and posting a mind-boggling 71.1% ground ball rate.

Jax has been more of a mortal with a 3.96 ERA, but his sky-high 39.9% strikeout rate has led to a league-leading 15.11 K/9, validating Minnesota’s decision to leave him in the bullpen.

This opens up a series of interesting questions for Minnesota.

Should they deal these two relief aces now? What does that mean for the team’s overall strategy at the trade deadline? And lastly, what would trades involving these two mean for Minnesota’s future?

Trading Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax could have massive implications for the Minnesota Twins

Relievers have perhaps their highest trade value at the deadline, as seemingly every contender can benefit from a boost in the bullpen.

In October, shortening games is of paramount importance, and studs like Duran and Jax can do wonders for World Series hopefuls.

Additionally, the years of team control both possess could net Minnesota a considerable haul, while saving the small-market Twins considerable money as the pair moves through the arbitration process in the offseason.

The potential for impact return packages and future cost savings are compelling reasons to deal the dynamic duo at the deadline, but making such a move could cause a seismic shift for the Twins’ present and future.

First, trades involving both relievers could signal a larger sell-off for Minnesota. The Twins are currently just 4.0 games back of the final Wild Card spot, so a lot will depend on how the next few weeks play out.

That said, it would behoove Minnesota to be realistic about their chances not only to catch up in the Wild Card race, but also to make noise in October should they get there.

Big picture, the club also needs to figure out where it stands in the broader scope of the American League landscape in the years to come. The rival Detroit Tigers look to have a stranglehold on the division for the foreseeable future.

Does that mean the team looks to sell off more than just spare parts and expiring contract veterans like Willi Castro?

If the sentiment around the league is that Minnesota’s likely to part with controllable studs like Duran and Jax, it might suggest that a larger rebuild might be the best course of action, though it might not be the most likely one.