BREAKING TRADE: Twins Elite Closer Jhoan Duran Heading To NL Contender

With contenders all over baseball looking to bolster their bullpens at the trade deadline, the Minnesota Twins' fireballer Jhoan Duran was the top prize out there. The Philadelphia Phillies have pulled off a seismic deal to land the flame-throwing closer.

The Phillies are acquiring Jhoan Duran from the Twins for Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel, per multiple reports pic.twitter.com/G2oPpNGGR6
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In return, the Twins get two of the Phils' top six prospects, in 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait (No. 4 in the Phillies' system) and 6'5" right-hander Mick Abel (#6). It's a big haul, but Philly got themselves the top closer available.

Duran ranks in the 100th percentile in baseball in Fastball Velo (100.2 mph), and the 99th percentile in Barrel% and Groundball%. With his 2.01 ERA, he's "only" in the 95th percentile. Duran has 16 saves and a 53:18 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

When Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski has his sights set on something, he usually finds a way to go out and get it. The Philadelphia bullpen has had its share of troubles this season, with their original closer, Jose Alvarado, suspended for 80 games and not available for the playoffs even after he returns next month, and Jordan Romano just not working out in the role.

Duran will solve all those bullpen issues.

Mets answer Phillies' deal by trading for Ryan Helsley

The Phillies and NY Mets are duking it out for first place in the NL East, currently tied in the top spot going into Wednesday night's games. And now they're trading blows in the trade market: The Phils have landed a massive blow with Duran, and now this evening, the Mets are countering it by trading for closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals.

The New Yorkers also landed another top high-leverage reliever earlier in the day.