Phillies trade deadline: Latest updates, news, and rumors after landing Jhoan Duran
The Phillies also had to give up catching prospect Eduardo Tait.
- What you should know
- The MLB trade deadline is Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m.
- The Philles made a splash Wednesday by trading for Jhoan Duran, who will become the team's new closer, according to manager Rob Thomson.
- Columnist David Murphy lauded the Phillies for paying a modest price to land Duran.
- Five players the Phillies should target ahead of the deadline, according to Murphy.
- Brandon Marsh is trying not to focus on the trade deadline as the Phillies look for outfield help.
Pitching prospect Mick Abel is heading to the Twins as part of the Jhoan Duran trade.
// Timestamp 07/31/25 11:58am
Can the Phillies acquire an outfielder who would have a bigger impact than Justin Crawford?
Nine years ago, when Dave Dombrowski ran the Red Sox’s baseball operations, he traded for a Twins reliever at the deadline, then called up his best outfield prospect from triple A the next day.
Is history about to repeat?
OK, so nobody would mistake star closer Jhoan Duran for middle-inning lefty Fernando Abad. But Justin Crawford sure does have a lot in common with Andrew Benintendi, perhaps even right down to their career trajectories.
And in the hours before Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline, the biggest question for the Phillies — after trading for Duran in Dombrowski’s boldest swap since taking the wheel in December 2020 — is this: Can they acquire an outfielder who will have a bigger impact than whatever is realistic for Crawford?
Is it time for the Phillies to call up outfield prospect Justin Crawford?
Can the Phillies acquire an outfielder who would have a bigger impact than Justin Crawford?// Timestamp 07/31/25 11:07am
New Phillies closer Jhoan Duran expected to join the team Friday
Bryce Harper is looking forward to welcoming new Phillies closer Jhoan Duran into the clubhouse on Friday.
“We needed bullpen help, and we got one of the best in baseball, so definitely a big reinforcement for us,” Harper said Wednesday night in Chicago after the trade was announced.
Some of the Phillies veterans are viewing the trade as a message to the team from Dave Dombrowski and the rest of the front office.
“Whenever you make a splash for high-caliber player, that means something,” said Kyle Schwarber. “It means they really want to help put you over the top and get you going.”
Harper also thinks there could be more done to improve the team by Thursday's 6 p.m. deadline. Dombrowski said the Phillies are no longer looking for bullpen help, and are comfortable with the mix they have following the additions of Duran and David Robertson. But he also added Phillies are “not done talking,” so an offensive upgrade could be on the table.
“We got the help that we needed,” Harper said. “And I don't think he's done. I don't know bullpen-wise if he’s done or not. But there's possibly a couple more moves to get done.”
// Timestamp 07/31/25 11:06am
Reports: Padres land Athletics closer Mason Miller
// Timestamp 07/31/25 10:13am
With Guardians becoming sellers, is Steven Kwan in play for the Phillies?
The Cleveland Guardians are officially sellers at the trade deadline, sending Cy Young-winner Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays and veteran reliever Paul Sewald to the Detroit Tigers, according to multiple reports.
The Guardians are also "trying to move" Steven Kwan, according to MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand, with the Phillies potentially "in the mix" to land the 27-year-old outfielder, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal previously reported.
As much as I am a sucker for converted starting pitchers, I am equally and oppositely opposed to left-handed slap hitters. The same is true for “left field defense.” Kwan is a different cat, though. For starters, his .289 batting average over the last two seasons with Cleveland comes with a respectable .418 slugging percentage. Second, he works a count. As of Wednesday, he had two more career walks than strikeouts. Most of all, his swing and skill set have a postseason profile. He’s the kind of guy who can make something happen when the rest of your big-swing lineup is flailing. Kwan is a remarkable 25-for-72 in 17 career playoff games. That’s a .347 batting average, combined with a .413 on-base percentage. With 14 runs and four RBIs, he has “created” an average of one run per playoff game in his career.
As I’ve said before, Aidan Miller and Andrew Painter are untouchable for anything less than a Mookie Betts-level player. But Kwan is the kind of guy who is worth dipping into the Aroon Escobars of the world. He’ll be two years shy of 30 next opening day, and he is under club control at a reasonable price through 2027. If the Phillies could somehow cobble together a package that gets them a high-leverage relief arm (Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis), you could absolutely justify parting with a package of something like Escobar and another prospect.
// Timestamp 07/31/25 9:56am
Reports: Tigers land Paul Sewald from the Guardians
// Timestamp 07/31/25 9:41am
Reports: Blue Jays acquire Shane Bieber from the Guardians
// Timestamp 07/31/25 9:06am
Report: Padres also interested in landing Luis Robert Jr.
Do the Phillies really need another hitter? Can they really afford Chicago’s Luis Robert Jr.?// Timestamp 07/31/25 8:14am
Report: Phillies talking to the Cardinals ahead of trade deadline
// Timestamp 07/31/25 7:35am
Phillies 'not done' after landing Jhoan Duran
Less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, the Phillies got their closer, agreeing on a deal for Jhoan Duran from the Twins on Wednesday evening.
The question now, with the deadline looming at 6 p.m. Thursday, is whether the Phillies can add a right-handed bat, preferably in the outfield. They have discussed a move for slugging Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez, but that would require moving someone to the outfield (Kyle Schwarber or Bryce Harper).
“Well, we’re not done,” Dave Dombrowski told reporters in Chicago Wednesday night. “I mean, we’re not done talking. The deadline’s not over. It’s very tough to acquire two [players] right now, so we have to just kind of see what happens [Thursday], really.”
Phillies acquire closer Jhoan Duran from Twins: ‘He was the best guy out there’// Timestamp 07/31/25 7:33am
Latest MLB trade deals include a potential Phillies target
Here are the trades that happened Wednesday night and overnight into Thursday, according to multiple reports:
- The Mariners acquired third baseman Eugenio Suárez in a trade with the Diamondbacks. The Phillies were among the teams talking to Arizona about Suárez.
- The Reds landed starting pitcher Zack Littell from the Rays in a three-team trade that also included the Dodgers.
- The Red Sox acquired relief pitcher Steven Maltz from the Cardinals. In exchange, St. Louis got first baseman Blaze Jordan.
// Timestamp 07/31/25 7:30am
Five players the Phillies should still consider at the trade deadline
The Phillies have sent plenty of signals that they intend to be aggressive at this year’s trade deadline, realizing the opportunity they have with one of the best rotations in the big leagues and two all-world hitters in Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
In that sense, I’d be mildly surprised if Dave Dombrowski isn’t an active participant in the final hours leading up to Major League Baseball’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Here are five guys who have the potential to both move the needle and prove worthy of the price tag even if they don’t win headlines.
- Reid Detmers, RP, Angels: The 26-year-old righty has always had a fastball to dream on. In his last 30 innings, Detmers has a 1.20 ERA with 42 strikeouts, 10 walks and just two home runs allowed. That’s right. He’s struck out more than a third of the 117 batters he’s faced.
- Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians: His .289 batting average over the last two seasons with Cleveland comes with a respectable .418 slugging percentage. In the playoffs, Kwan is a remarkable 25-for-72 in 17 career games. That’s a .347 batting average, combined with a .413 on-base percentage. With 14 runs and four RBIs, he has “created” an average of one run per playoff game in his career.
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF, Diamondbacks: There isn’t much flashy about him, and he’s slashing just .247/.296/.404 this season. But his OPS is nearly 100 points higher on the road this season and he has always hit lefties well.
- Alex Call, OF, Nationals: All he’s done is post an .821 OPS while playing good defense over the last two seasons. He would give the Phillies a lefty killer to pair with Marsh in center field and rotate in elsewhere as needed.
- Ramón Laureano, OF, Orioles: Laureano figures to be at the top of a lot of team’s lists, given his .887 OPS and $6.5 million club option for next season.
// Timestamp 07/31/25 7:20am
Who the Phillies had to give up in Jhoan Duran trade
As expected, the cost to land former Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran was steep.
As part of the trade, the Phillies gave up right-hander Mick Abel and teenage catching prospect Eduardo Tait.
“We felt this was a deal that we got a dominant closer for a tough price — two good players — but something that we thought makes sense," Dave Dombrowski told reporters Wednesday night.
Abel, 23, seemed all along like a trade chip. He made his major league debut May 18, shutting out the Pirates for six innings and outdueling Paul Skenes, but posted a 5.04 ERA in six starts before getting sent back to triple A.
One National League talent evaluator said this week that he believes Abel will benefit from playing in a less pressure-filled environment than Philadelphia. Abel is expected to step right into the Twins’ rotation.
Tait, who turns 19 next month, was batting .255 and slugging .434 with 11 homers at two levels of A-ball. He was recently promoted to high-A Jersey Shore, where he was 8-for-27 in seven games. Another talent evaluator said this week that Tait’s “going to hit,” but there are questions about his defense behind the plate.
Although the Phillies winced at moving two of their best half-dozen prospects, they didn’t touch their top three: pitcher Andrew Painter, shortstop Aidan Miller, and center fielder Justin Crawford.
Dombrowski said teams asked for Painter in talks for closers. The Phillies regard the 22-year-old righty as all but untouchable. Painter and Crawford could make their major league debuts before season’s end.
The Twins initially wanted Painter, too. But the Phillies’ best pitching prospect since Cole Hamels threw a career-high 103 pitches Wednesday for Lehigh Valley, a sign that he wasn’t going anywhere.
Phillies acquire closer Jhoan Duran from Twins: ‘He was the best guy out there’What time is the MLB trade deadline?
The MLB trade deadline is Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m.
Historically, the trade deadline always fell on July 31, but commissioner Rob Manfred is able to set the deadline any day between July 28 and Aug. 3, so it doesn't conflict with any games.
After the trade deadline expires, players on 40-man rosters can no longer be traded from club to club. Players can still be placed and claimed on outright waivers.
Minor league players not on 40-man rosters can still be traded after the deadline.
// Timestamp 07/31/25 7:10am
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