What If the Twins Could Have Scored a Mason Miller-Caliber Package for Jhoan Duran?

Both relievers were deadline centerpieces, but Oakland’s return for Mason Miller was staggering.

Did Minnesota leave more on the table by moving Jhoan Duran when they did?

Image courtesy of Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

At the 2025 trade deadline, two of the most electric arms in baseball were moved within a day of each other. The Twins traded Jhoan Duran to the Phillies. The Athletics traded Mason Miller to the Padres. Both are high-octane relievers who light up the radar gun and make hitters look overmatched. Both had multiple years of team control left. Both brought back strong returns for their clubs, but Miller’s package from San Diego reached another level entirely.

The Miller deal turned heads immediately. Oakland landed Leo De Vries, a consensus top five prospect in all of baseball and the type of player teams dream of building around. They also got Braden Nett, the Padres’ number three prospect, plus Henry Báez and Eduarniel Nuñez, ranked thirteenth and seventeenth in the system. It was an aggressive push from Padres GM AJ Preller, who has never shied away from paying premium prices when he is locked in on a player.

The Twins’ deal for Duran, made a day earlier, brought back Eduardo Tait, ranked 57th overall, and Mick Abel, ranked 92nd. Both are top 100 prospects with upside, Tait as a talented player at a premium position and Abel as a big-armed pitcher who will slot into the rotation.

By any measure, that is a strong return. But there was a sense leading into the deadline that the Twins did not need to trade Duran unless the offer was exceptional. Early in talks with Philadelphia, Minnesota asked for Andrew Painter, the Phillies’ top prospect and one of the ten best in the sport. The Phillies made it clear Painter was off the table, and the Twins ultimately pivoted to a package centered around Tait and Abel.

Part of why Miller fetched more comes down to controllability and cost. Miller is still in pre-arbitration, making the league minimum, and will have four years of control after this season. Duran is already in arbitration, earning over four million this year with projected jumps to around seven and ten million in the following seasons. Then there is the raw stuff.

Miller strikes out more batters per nine innings compared to Duran (13.9 vs 9.7,) throws even harder (101.2 vs 100.3), and generates more swings and misses (37.4% vs 31.0%). His FIP is stronger despite pitching in a challenging home park. There is also the possibility, however uncertain, that the Padres could try him as a starter again, which could boost his value even higher.

Timing may have played a role as well.

We cannot know for sure, but we do know that the deadline itself creates leverage for selling teams, especially those holding premium arms with years of control.

The A’s held Miller until the final hours, which may have forced the Padres into their most aggressive offer.

The Twins moved Duran a day earlier, before the Miller package was on the board. It is natural to wonder if waiting could have shifted the conversation with Philadelphia, perhaps bringing Painter’s name back into play, or even drawing interest from another team like San Diego if they had not landed Miller.

When you put all the factors together, Miller’s profile simply carried more trade value, and the Athletics maximized it. The Twins still landed two top 100 prospects for a reliever, something many front offices would be thrilled with, and the deal may look even better in a few years depending on how Tait and Abel develop.

The question is less about whether Minnesota made a good trade and more about whether there was an opportunity to push it into the “too good to refuse” category.

Could the timing have made the difference?

Could Painter have been part of the return? Or was this simply the right moment to act with the offer they had?

Miller’s trade will be remembered as one of the biggest bullpen blockbusters in recent years. Duran’s may quietly age into one of the Twins’ smarter plays if their new prospects hit.

For now, it is a fascinating case study in market dynamics, perceived value, and the subtle decisions that shape a team’s future.

What do you think? Should the Twins have held onto Duran until the very last moment, or did they make the right call taking the Phillies’ offer when they did? Share your thoughts in the comments below.