What they're saying: Grades on Phillies' trade for Jhoan Duran

What they’re saying: Grades on Phillies’ trade for Jhoan Duran originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies made their big-splash trade a full day before MLB’s trade deadline, sending two of their top prospects to Minnesota for Twins fireballing closer Jhoan Duran.

It’s difficult to find many fans who would disapprove of the trade, but to get full perspective on this, we cast our net wider, and pulled in the many writers across the interweb who have given out grades to the Phils and Twins for the swap.

Michael Rand, Minnesota Star Tribune – Twins B, Phillies B+

What they’re saying: “It will be easier to judge this in a few years, obviously, but the bottom line is the Twins got a reasonable haul even if they didn’t get a can’t-miss prospect and sold high on Duran even if you are squeamish about losing him.

“It’s a deal that benefits both teams for the stages they are at, but those two extra years of team control with Duran tip the scales a little more in the Phillies’ favor.”

Andy McCullough, Senior MLB Writer, The Athletic – Twins B, Phillies A

What they’re saying: “It’s an easy trade to like for both sides. The Phillies acquired possibly the best reliever on the market, and didn’t have to part with their best prospects. The Twins managed to get a big-league-ready pitcher with a decent floor and a catcher with potential. I guess the price was right.”

Chad Jennings, MLB Writer, The Athletic – Twins A-, Phillies A

What they’re saying: “Rather than trying to nickel and dime their way through quantity over quality, the Phillies went out and got the best shutdown closer on the market (one who’s under contract for two more seasons, just like Zack Wheeler). This is the Phillies’ window to win a title, and they got the piece that’s been hardest for them to find anywhere else.”

Tyler Kepner, Senior MLB Writer, The Athletic – Twins A; Phillies B+

What they’re saying: “It’s hard to see the Twins regretting this deal. The Phillies might, in time, but they had no choice but to fix the bullpen, and Duran gives them a better chance to win a championship. That’s what matters most now.”

R.J. Anderson, CBS Sports MLB Writer – Phillies A, Twins B

What they’re saying: “Duran will ostensibly step into the ninth-inning role, giving the Phillies the kind of end-game cheat code they thought they had in suspended closer José Alvarado and hoped they were getting in free-agent signing Jordan Romano. Pair him with Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm and you start to have the makings of a reliable high-leverage situation.”

Jesse Yomtov, USA Today MLB Writer – Phillies A, Twins C-

What they’re saying: “Dave Dombrowski seized on his opportunity to get 2½ years of one of the best relievers in baseball in exchange for just a pair of prospects. It’s a huge addition for the Phillies, with Duran presumably assuming the ninth-inning role and taking a ton of pressure off the club’s other high-leverage guys. Philadelphia has the 27-year-old flamethrower under team control through 2027.”

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What they’re saying: Grades on Phillies’ trade for Jhoan Duran

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