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The Los Angeles Dodgers have been awfully quiet so far ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
Granted, the same can be said of a lot of teams. Major League Baseball’s expanded playoff format has pushed most of the trade action right back until the deadline. The Dodgers know they’re buying, but they have to figure out who’s selling.
One team still up in the air is the Minnesota Twins, who entered Monday with a record of 50-55. It would seem they’re trending toward selling, and that could be a huge win for the Dodgers.
Fireballing Twins closer Jhoan Durán could be the bullpen prize of the trade deadline if he’s dealt. And the Dodgers could use another option to close out games, so Durán would be extremely appealing.
On Sunday, Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicted that the Dodgers would bring Durán to Los Angeles by 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers anticipated having one of the best bullpens in MLB this season. Unfortunately for Dave Roberts and Co., injuries have decimated the relief corps. It puts Los Angeles in a dire position, requiring an aggressive move,” wrote Johnson.
“The Minnesota Twins want a premium return for closer Jhoan Duran (1.90 ERA and .537 OPS allowed) and for good reason, since he’s arbitration-eligible through 2027. Ultimately, the Dodgers will be willing to win the bidding war to provide stability in the 9th inning for an October run.”
Not only is Durán potentially the best relief arm available, but the National League is full of teams that need high-leverage relievers. The Philadelphia Phillies don’t have a clear-cut closer, and the New York Mets have a pretty thin bullpen as well.
If the Dodgers bring in Durán, they’ll reassert themselves as top World Series contenders, as the bullpen is one of the few things dragging them down these days.
More MLB: Yankees Trade Rumors: New York ‘Eyeing’ Rockies Standout Reliever
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