The Philadelphia Phillies have joined the Mets in an NL East arms race.
Philadelphia agreed to acquire flame-throwing closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins in a blockbuster deal on the eve of the trade deadline, according to ESPN.
The Phillies are reportedly sending 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait and 23-year-old right-hander Mick Abel to the Twins. MLB Pipeline ranked Tait as Philadelphia’s No. 4 prospect, and Abel as No. 6.
It cost a pricey package to acquire Duran, who was among the most coveted players on the trade market.
The right-handed Duran, 27, boasts a 2.01 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 49.1 innings and 16 saves in 18 opportunities. He remains under team control through the 2027 season.
Duran should help bolster a Phillies bullpen that entered Wednesday with a 4.33 ERA, which ranked 24th among MLB teams, but that also added veteran David Robertson earlier this month.
The trade came hours after the Mets acquired right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants, and moments before the Mets closed in on acquiring hard-throwing right-handed closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Rogers, a submariner, has a 1.80 ERA this season. Helsley has a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves.
The Mets entered Wednesday with a half-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East but lost to the San Diego Padres, finishing off a three-game sweep.
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