Sat May 31 04:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Dodgers Eye Twins Closer Duran as Trade Deadline Target Amid Pitching Injury Woes

**LOS ANGELES, CA** – Entering the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers appeared to have an embarrassment of riches in pitching talent. After a winter of high-profile acquisitions like Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates, few anticipated a dire need for pitching reinforcements mid-season. However, a rash of injuries has left the Dodgers scrambling, with only Tanner Scott remaining healthy from that initial group of prized additions.

While the Dodgers are still expected to make the playoffs, their pitching depth has been severely tested, leading to speculation about potential trade deadline moves. According to ClutchPoints writer Garrett Kerman, Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran is an ideal target, suggesting a trade that would send Dodgers outfield prospect Josue De Paula to Minnesota in exchange.

Duran, 27, boasts a dominant 1.07 ERA in 25 innings this season, racking up 30 strikeouts and nine saves. His blazing fastball, which regularly hits 100 mph, coupled with a devastating splinker, makes him one of the most electric arms in baseball. Kerman argues that acquiring Duran would provide the Dodgers with a formidable bullpen trio alongside Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol, solidifying their late-game dominance for the playoffs and beyond.

The cost would be significant, potentially involving a top prospect like De Paula. However, the Dodgers’ deep farm system could allow them to make such a move without severely impacting their future. For the Twins, acquiring De Paula would bolster their already promising outfield prospects, joining the ranks of Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez.

A potential obstacle for the Dodgers is the Twins’ current standing. At 30-25, Minnesota is currently in playoff contention, making them less likely to part with a key player like Duran, who is also under team control for two more seasons. The Dodgers will need to monitor the Twins’ performance closely as the trade deadline approaches, hoping for a change in circumstances that could make this potential blockbuster trade a reality.

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