6 Trade Packages Minnesota Twins Could Land for Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax

[jorgenswest]

20 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

Would you trade 1+ year of Berrios for 2+ years of Duran?  If I think I’m playoff bound and my bullpen is weak like the Dodgers, I would think that makes Duran worth two plus change.  Berrios was a “solid” starter.  Duran is more of a game changer for a team like the Dodgers.  

Out of context maybe not. Relievers are so critical to the playoffs because the additional off days allow them to have an impact in many games.

In the context of the Dodgers or teams with the ability to spend so much money it might be harder to acquire a Duran than a Berrios. They are also building to win the World Series as opposed to win enough in the regular season to get to the playoff. I think 3 playoff years control of Duran is worth more to the Dodgers than two playoff years from Berrios. There are some other teams that have the resources to overpay for a top reliever.

On a spreadsheet it might be the same or lean toward Berrios. The market can play out differently though. I hope the Twins hold out for more than the Berrios return.

 

[Elliot]

On 7/24/2025 at 12:51 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Wait, this is for BOTH guys? No way. Zero. One of them? Yes, but not both. This is awful for both, truly.

My reaction also. Maybe for one of the relievers. 
No to any deal involving a “maybe” catcher.  The next step is almost always DH or 1B. That a likely eventual move for most catchers, but you would like to get 6 or 7 years behind the plate first. I would rather they get a defense first catcher with a questionable bat tool. 
Bottom line is they do not need to do a deal. No deal is better than a bad one. 
A deal for one of the pending FA’s is a whole different discussion. 

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/24/2025 at 1:12 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

That Dodgers one would be REALLY fun. 

How about something like Tristan Casas and Payton Tolle from Boston? Just to throw out one more idea.

I too like the Dodgers trade for Jax …… am not a big proponent of trading either of these two but sometimes one has to be flexible. Cannot see trading both!……. Rushing is a pretty big carrot.

I was on the Tristan Casas bandwagon every other day here for about 4 months starting last November……..I don’t know Payton Tolle.

I like Duran for Duran with the Red Sox as an option to consider……maybe Twins throw in a young AA starter OR Castro, since Sox are trying to make playoffs……….I think they want arms?………Sox are riding with Aroldis Chapman at age 37. Chapman is having arguably his best year of his 16 year career. Couple him with Duran and games become 7 innings long in playoffs - on paper.

The Dodger deal, getting Rushing behind the plate 55-60% of the time with Jeffers potentially being our regular 1B going forward (could extend Ryan?) & catching 10% of the time…………even Vazquez (or like) on an inexpensive $4.5-$6M deal catching 30% of the time.

Do both & new line-up:

Duran - Buxton - Keaschall (not sure if he can throw in ‘25?) - Lewis - Larnach - Correa - Jeffers - Wallner - Rushing, to finish ‘25 & heading into ‘26.

If both relievers go their’s a big void in the back end!

 

[JD-TWINS]

10 hours ago, saviking said:

I agree with the exception that because we are hung with Correa's enormous salary we won't have the money sign them before they become free agents. 

If Castro is gone - Bader is gone - Coulombe is gone - Vazquez is gone, that’s $28M freed up. Am assuming that ownership will allow spending to (at least) go back to 2023 level of $154M in ‘26 ………….that’s plenty of financial flexibility.

Wallner - Larnach - Keaschall - Lee - Lewis - Jeffers - CC - Buxton total to about $65M……should be able to easily put the bulk of the Staff together for $45M, with Lopez getting $22M.

[Guest]

On 7/24/2025 at 11:13 AM, Fire Dan Gladden said:

The Dodgers bullpen is in shambles. Make them overpay for one of Duran/Jax.

Ask, certainly.  Demand, absolutely.  And don't settle for less, but be willing to stand pat.  There are several pretty good bullpen arms supposedly on the market and the Dodgers shop carefully.

[saviking]

13 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

If Castro is gone - Bader is gone - Coulombe is gone - Vazquez is gone, that’s $28M freed up. Am assuming that ownership will allow spending to (at least) go back to 2023 level of $154M in ‘26 ………….that’s plenty of financial flexibility.

Wallner - Larnach - Keaschall - Lee - Lewis - Jeffers - CC - Buxton total to about $65M……should be able to easily put the bulk of the Staff together for $45M, with Lopez getting $22M.

That is not the point. You're talking about next year. I'm talking about the ability to keep and sign Ryan, and Durhan to new contracts. That's where Correa's contract will get in the way.

[cjm0926]

I'd offer Griffin Jax to the Mariners for Harry Ford and Tyler Locklear. I think the Twins are in a good position to be able to trade Jax. His value will never be higher, and you could backfill his setup role with Varland and Stewart while keeping Duran as the closer. As for the return, it isn't quite the 2 top-100 prospects but pretty dang close. Ford is an athletic catcher who is ML ready and is MLB's #50 prospect. Locklear has already made his debut but has put up big numbers at AAA, and he is the #8 first base prospect in MLB, likely right outside of the top 100. You could trade Vazquez and France for whatever you could get for them, and call those guys up and let them play for the rest of the season. Jax would give Seattle another monster at the back of the bullpen if they are willing to give the two young guys up.

[Morland]

These deals would be good for Jax. Remember, Jax has only had one great year. The rest of the time, including this year, he's been a good middle reliever. His peripherals suggest greatness, but he has not been consistent.

Duran on the other hand, has been great every year but one. And that one "down" year, he was still pretty good. So, Duran should command a higher price than any of the suggested deals.

As for trading Ryan, that would be stupid. If they did, four top one hundred prospects would be about right. Near ace level pitching is a rare commodity and should command an extraordinary price.

[tony&rodney]

22 hours ago, cjm0926 said:

I'd offer Griffin Jax to the Mariners for Harry Ford and Tyler Locklear. I think the Twins are in a good position to be able to trade Jax. His value will never be higher, and you could backfill his setup role with Varland and Stewart while keeping Duran as the closer. As for the return, it isn't quite the 2 top-100 prospects but pretty dang close. Ford is an athletic catcher who is ML ready and is MLB's #50 prospect. Locklear has already made his debut but has put up big numbers at AAA, and he is the #8 first base prospect in MLB, likely right outside of the top 100. You could trade Vazquez and France for whatever you could get for them, and call those guys up and let them play for the rest of the season. Jax would give Seattle another monster at the back of the bullpen if they are willing to give the two young guys up.

This works for me. I'm willing to sweeten the deal - Jax and Castro for Ford and Ryan Sloan.

[MGX]

When evaluating the Dodgers trade it's a big assumption to think Rushing is a solution at C. He's more likely to end up being a corner OF, so we'd really be betting on his bat.