Dodgers Inquired About Twins Flamethrowing Closer to Finalize Bullpen

Dodgers Inquired About Twins Flamethrowing Closer to Finalize Bullpen originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and have been swept in three of their last four series. Although the team has lost minimal ground atop the NL West, the bullpen remains a glaring weakness on an otherwise strong roster.

Closer Tanner Scott has battled command issues all season, and his propensity to give up the longball is the direct cause of leading the league in blown saves. As a group, Los Angeles’ bullpen carries the seven-highest ERA (4.39) and has allowed the second-most home runs (58).

To combat the struggling unit, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman is aggressively searching for reinforcements on the trade market, and according to Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers have inquired about the availability of Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran.

Duran, 27, is amid a stellar season and should be one of the most sought-after relief pitchers at the trade deadline. In 44.1 innings, the right-hander has a 1.62 ERA with 50 strikeouts and converted 15 of his 17 save opportunities. Duran is also a stark contrast to Scott. Scott possesses the eight-highest home runs per nine, but Duran has yet to give up a single home run this season.

While it is unclear if the Dodgers want to remove Scott from the closer role entirely, Duran would make an excellent replacement to take over the ninth inning. Due to the two years of arbitration remaining on his contract, it will take a lot for the Twins to part ways with Duran. However, if a team is willing to meet Minnesota’s asking price, look no further than the Dodgers, who have spent nearly $2 billion on the current roster.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.