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Phillies Facing Massive Trade Conundrum With Breakout Star
Phillies Facing Massive Trade Conundrum With Breakout Star
Matthew SchmidtSun, June 7, 2026 at 5:01 PM UTC·3 min readThe Philadelphia Phillies have re-emerged from the depths this season, rebounding from an awful start to insert themselves smack dab in the middle of the National League Wild Card race.
No, the Phillies did not want to be 34-30 at this point of the season, but in context, they have gone 26-12 since their 8-18 start.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPhiladelphia's recent run has completely shifted its trade deadline plans, as it went from sellers to pretty obvious buyers here in June.
The problem? There are still two months until the deadline, and a whole lot can change between now and then.
So what does that mean for breakout star closer Jhoan Duran?
Duran has been nothing short of brilliant this season. He has gone 15 for 15 in save opportunities and hasn't allowed an earned run in any of those games. He boasts a 1.31 ERA and 0.823 WHIP on the campaign as a whole, and he is averaging a ridiculous 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings with a 6.60 K/BB ratio.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 28-year-old has been tremendous, and he is a significant reason why the Phillies have been able to bounce back.
But Duran has just one more year of club control left on his contract. He is slated to hit free agency after 2027, and at this rate, he will get paid handsomely.
That puts Philadelphia in a rather difficult spot.
Make no mistake: if the Phillies keep winning at this rate, they'll undoubtedly keep Duran past the deadline. But is what Philadelphia is doing sustainable?
The Phillies' Pythagorean record is 29-35, indicating that they have gotten considerably lucky. The fact that they are 14-5 in one-run games is evidence of that.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPhiladelphia ranks 29th in the league in batting average, 28th in OPS and 26th in runs scored. Outside of Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh, its offense has been absolutely abysmal.
The Phillies' pitching hasn't been otherworldly, either, as the staff owns a 4.03 ERA as a whole. The starting rotation lays claim to a 4.19 ERA, a number that looks a heck of a lot better than it should thanks to the heroics of Cristopher Sanchez.
So what if this all catches up to Philadelphia in the coming weeks? Will the change how the team views Duran moving forward?
The Phillies could reap a king's ransom in return for Duran if they moved him. Elite closers are at a premium in today's game, and Duran is one of baseball's best.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOr, Philadelphia could try and keep Duran as part of its long-term core and attempt to extend him after the season. That way, the Phils would keep the right-hander away from free agency the following winter.
How the next several weeks unfold will surely tell us a whole lot about how the Phillies plan on handling the trade deadline, and Duran's name could be among the most interesting to monitor.
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