Blockbuster Mock Trade Sends 2 Star Pitchers To Blue Jays In 5-Player Deal

FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently pitched a blockbuster trade idea that would send star pitchers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax of the Minnesota Twins to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for prospects Khal Stephen, Kendry Rojas, and Sam Shaw. But does it make sense for both sides?

“Both Durán and Jax are under contract through 2027, meaning the Twins face very little pressure to pull the trigger on a deal unless it’s undeniable in quality,” Kline wrote. “Toronto does not sacrifice its very best prospects here, but Khal Stephen and Kendry Rojas — a pair of 22-year-olds with Double-A New Hampshire right now — are both trending up in a big way. Minnesota gets a pair of future starters, a righty and a lefty, to mold in their strong development program, along with a potential utility bat in 20 year-old Sam Shaw.”

For the Blue Jays, this deal would make perfect sense.

Toronto would land two incredible bullpen arms with team control without trading any of its most coveted prospects. Jax and Duran would anchor the Blue Jays’ bullpen for years to come.

But with it making so much sense for the Blue Jays, it’s clear that it wouldn’t make sense for the Twins. The proposed packaged is similar in value to Duran by himself. It’s hard to imagine the Twins would package both their most coveted bullpen assets in one deal without acquiring any superstar prospects.

At the end of the day, the Twins don’t need to trade Jax or Duran. They would likely only do so if they were blown away by a trade offer and this one wouldn’t do that.

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