The Phillies headed into the trade deadline with a clear need: lockdown relief at the back end of the bullpen. And Dave Dombrowski didn’t just patch the hole-he fortified it. In a high-stakes move that signaled Philadelphia’s commitment to chasing a championship this season, the club landed flamethrowing closer Jhoan Duran from the Twins, sending top catching prospect Eduardo Tait (No. 4 in the organization) and promising right-hander Mick Abel the other way.
This wasn’t just a move for 2025. With Duran under team control through 2027, it’s a calculated bet on now and the years ahead-especially with uncertainty still hanging over José Alvarado after his 80-game suspension this season. That long-term security at closer adds another layer of confidence to a roster that believes it’s built to win today.
Before even settling into his new clubhouse, Duran made it clear: he’s not here to ease into anything. In fact, he’s already etched his name in club history.
Through his first three outings in a Phillies uniform, Duran has delivered three consecutive 1-2-3 saves-a first in franchise history, per Hall of Famer Jayson Stark. Talk about a statement start.
Those scoreless frames haven’t just been clean, they’ve been commanding. Duran racked up two strikeouts along the way and more importantly, showed off the composure and presence that make him a natural fit for the high-leverage moments October demands.
From August 1 through August 9, he shut the door twice on the Tigers and once on the Rangers, including back-to-back one-run nail-biters-textbook tightrope situations where every pitch carries weight. His fastball.
His demeanor. Unrattled.
With that kind of introduction, it’s clear Duran isn’t just here to fill a role-he’s here to own it. The kind of back-end presence the Phillies desperately lacked during their 2024 playoff run, when a dominant bullpen unraveled under postseason pressure. That experience left a sour taste, and this move is Dombrowski’s way of saying: not again.
Now the question shifts to the stretch run and beyond. Can Duran keep this level of dominance rolling through the dog days and into October? If early signs are any indication, the Phillies have found their closer-not just for this year’s postseason push, but as a foundation piece in their pursuit of sustained contention.
The risk was real. Parting with two young, talented arms is never easy.
Closers in Phillies history with 3 straight 1-2-3 saves in their first 3 appearances as a Phillie:
Jhoan Duran, 2025
And that’ll do it!
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But sometimes, if you believe your window is open, you go all in. With Jhoan Duran at the back end, Philadelphia just might have found the missing piece to a championship puzzle.
