If the Chicago Cubs are truly all-in on the 2025 season, they’ll add at least one top reliever at the trade deadline.
The Cubs’ bullpen looks like a legitimate concern with the capacity to derail their season. They’re 26th in reliever ERA so far this season (4.81) and even if new closer Ryan Pressly maintains his 4-for-4 save percentage, they’ve got too many other blowup artists on hand.
At 18-12, the Cubs sit atop the National League Central in the early going. They have to win a division title, not only to end a four-year playoff drought, but to try and convince superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker he should stay in Chicago this winter as a free agent.
With all that in mind, one baseball writer has identified a fireballing closer he thinks the Cubs can obtain.
On Wednesday, Andrew Wright of Newsweek named Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran as one of the top potential targets for the Cubs to upgrade their bullpen ahead of the Jul. 31 trade deadline.
“Duran is the closer on a Minnesota team that looks to be headed nowhere this season. With a record of 13-17 in a bit of is a top-heavy AL Central division, it may be time for the Twins to begin thinking about trades,” Wright wrote.
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“Duran has pitched to a 1.46 ERA in 12 1/3 innings and he would undoubtedly be the flame-thrower in the bullpen that Chicago is lacking. It is unclear if Minnesota would even listen to calls on Duran, but it certainly can’t hurt for the Cubs to try.”
It’s a bit early to start thinking about an extension, but Spotrac values Duran at seven years, $62 million. Teams rarely make such long-term plans at closer, however, as a lot could change in two-and-a-half years with Duran.
Few teams have as much riding on the 2025 season as the Cubs do. If Duran is available, they should be one of the most aggressive teams hitting up the Twins’ phone lines.
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