5 Teams Named As Suitors For Top Relief Trade Candidate Jhoan Duran

The Minnesota Twins have been reeling of late, to say the least. The Twinkies have lost 15 of their last 19 games heading into Thursday's action, including six games in which they've surrendered double-digit runs, three of them of 16 runs or more.

They now sit 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot, with four other teams to leapfrog as well. If they continue to look like a non-factor for a postseason berth, and become sellers, Jhoan Duran would immediately become one of the most sought-after names on the relief market.

The fireballing closer, who is in the 100th percentile in baseball in fastball velo, and 97th in expected ERA, would be one of, if not the top, relievers on the trade market. Duran has 11 saves and a 1.73 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP, while striking out 10.2 batters per nine innings.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes, "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." The insider gives him a 40% chance of being traded, and lists these five teams as the best fits for a new destination:

Los Angeles Dodgers
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
Arizona Diamondbacks
Texas Rangers

No contender is in greater need of a bullpen boost than the Phillies, who sit near the bottom in all of baseball in nearly all relief pitching categories, including ERA, WHIP and Blown Saves. Their closer, Jose Alvardo, is serving an 80-game suspension for PED use that will keep him out until late August, and he won't be eligible for the postseason, either.

The Dodgers are never happy until they've cornered the market on top-level relief arms, and they would love to add Duran to a cast that includes Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Alex Vesia, and the soon-to-be returning Blake Treinen.

The other three teams are on the outer edges of contention, and even Duran's presence might not help them enough to make it to the playoffs.