Cubs Strongly Interested in Twins Relievers Jhaon Duran and Griffin Jax

Cubs Strongly Interested in Twins Relievers Jhaon Duran and Griffin Jax originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Chicago Cubs' bullpen to begin the year was a major concern. The bullpen was continually blowing games, and couldn't find its rhythm. But it got significantly better as the year passed, and it's no longer a pressing issue.

However, that doesn't mean the Cubs won't inquire with other teams about their star relievers. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs are among a few top contenders interested in the Minnesota Twins relievers who could be on the move.

"The Philadelphia Phillies have been extensively scouting Minnesota Twins relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax..." Nightengale writes, "The Twins are also drawing strong interest from the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cincinnati Reds.

Both Duran and Jax have been drawing interest around the league, with the Philadelphia Phillies the team they're both connected to the most. But now, the Cubs and a few other teams are interested in the Twins' relievers.

This season, Duran has been a bit better than Jax. He has a 1.49 ERA, 47 strikeouts, 16 walks, a 1.087 WHIP, and no home runs allowed in 42.1 innings this season.

Jax, meanwhile, has a 4.02 ERA with 65 strikeouts, ten walks, a 1.240 WHIP, and four home runs allowed in 40.1 innings pitched in 2025.

In 2024, Jax was the better reliever, as he had a 2.03 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched, while Duran had a 3.64 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched.

Regardless of which is better, they're both strong righty relievers under team control through the 2027 season. Even with the seventh-best bullpen in baseball, the Cubs could still look to add one of the Twins' relievers.

A strong bullpen can be a massive asset in the postseason, and in adding one of Duran or Jax, the Cubs could potentially contend for having the best bullpen in the sport.

It's been an excellent season for the Cubs so far, and with the team expected to be aggressive at the trade deadline, the Cubs could look to land one of the Twins' relievers to bolster their good bullpen into one of the best in the league.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.