While Chris Paddack’s trade wasn’t unexpected, His departure was more surprising. He was officially dealt to the Phillies in return for pitcher Mick Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait.
Around the league, there was a sense that the Twins might move either Duran or Griffin Jax after slipping out of the playoff race—but only for a steep price. The Phillies felt Duran was worth meeting that price.
Mick Abel is the centerpiece of the return for Minnesota and is expected to join the big-league roster right away. Although he had limited opportunities in Philadelphia due to their deep, healthy rotation, Abel dominated at Triple-A this year with a 2.31 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 74 innings.
His arsenal centers around a fastball and curveball, with a good dose of sliders and sinkers. Command remains a work in progress, but Twins pitching coach Pete Maki will likely have time to help refine it.
Eduardo Tait, a 19-year-old catcher in High-A, is viewed as a promising long-term piece. He has strong power and a big arm, and the Twins reportedly rate him highly. While he’s still a couple of years from the majors, the potential implementation of the ABS (automated balls and strikes) system could help minimize concerns about his defense.
According to MLB Pipeline, Tait is a left-handed hitter who regularly barrels the ball, hits it hard to all fields, and has solid power for his age. Though he sometimes tries to pull the ball too much, he should grow out of that with experience.
Defensively, Tait is improving. The Phillies felt his receiving made real strides last season, and combined with his plus arm, he could eventually be an average or better defender—enough to be a regular behind the plate.
For their part, the Phillies land one of the league’s elite closers in Duran. Twins fans will miss his high-energy appearances, but the bullpen still features quality arms like Louie Varland and Brock Stewart.
Attention now shifts to other Minnesota trade chips. Pending free agents like Harrison Bader, Willi Castro, and Danny Coulombe are likely on their way out.
Players such as Christian Vázquez and Ty France could be moved as well, though their market is less clear. Meanwhile, names like Stewart, Trevor Larnach, and even Carlos Correa could come up in talks as the Twins look ahead to 2026.
Be the first to comment