Just last week, fans watched in real time as Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk was yanked into a new chapter of his career. In the middle of a game against the Pirates, the veteran learned he’d been traded to the Royals, leaving him to share emotional embraces with his Arizona teammates before disappearing down the tunnel to his new baseball home. We can still recall how he hugged his teammates in the D-Backs dugout before leaving for Kansas…

So, when the Twins’ star closer initiated the same gesture in the game against the Red Sox, fans couldn’t help but brace for a sequel. Now, that’s what happens when a top trade candidate stays eerily quiet even with less than 48 hours from the deadline. His every routine movement, every small quirk on the dugout, suddenly felt like a clue. But MLB insider Jeff Passan cleared the air there.

“Jhoan Duran has not been traded. He was just hugging his bullpen catcher because that’s what friends do sometimes,” his X post read.

Notably, on Tuesday, Duran was spotted giving someone in the bullpen a hug, and the rumor mill immediately kicked into overdrive. Was he on his way out? Is this his farewell game with the Twins? Hugging someone in the dugout might be quite normal, but when that entity is Jhoan Duran, who is rumored to have some of the top suitors, we can’t blame the fans here.

But now, Passan has quickly calmed everyone down.

However, with the Twins sitting five games back of the AL’s final wild-card spot, it’s not impossible they could trade their flamethrowing closer. And if they do, he’d bring in a hefty return. And here enter the Yankees!

The Yankees’ bullpen has quietly turned into a major weak spot this season, and if they want to get back into true contender mode, adding a shutdown closer at the trade deadline might be the move. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Tristan Cockcroft floated a probable trade option that would send Duran to the Yankees in exchange for two top prospects. Infielder Roc Riggio and righty Carlos Lagrange.

Reportedly, Duran is having a good season with a 2.01 ERA and 53 SOs. Hence, for a Yankees bullpen carrying a 3.99 ERA, adding a flamethrower like him could be exactly the breath of fresh air they need. But it’s still a speculation…

Apart from the Yankees, there are a few more suitors in contention

Reportedly, teams like the Tigers and Phillies are also pursuing Duran.

While the Phillies have names like Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler in their pitching end, they are all on the wrong side of 30. They need younger blood, and the front office knows it. If the Phillies want to finally bring home a World Series, the bullpen has to be fixed, and fast. So, they are reportedly zeroing in on a high-leverage reliever at the trade deadline, and Jhoan Duran checks all the boxes. With Jose Alvarado suspended, adding a dominant arm like Duran could be the perfect safety blanket for the stretch run.

On the other hand, the Tigers looked like the team to beat in the AL for the whole first half. But as the All-Star break approached, the wheels started to wobble, and things haven’t really stabilized since. One of the biggest problems? Their bullpen.

Last year, the Tigers leaned heavily on their relievers down the stretch, but this season that group hasn’t been nearly as reliable. So, without a true closer, shoring up the back end of the bullpen could be Detroit’s top trade deadline priority. Rumor has it the Tigers might look to the Twins for a deal, potentially sending prospects Bryce Rainer and Josue Briceno in exchange for Duran.

And these outpourings of offers could be one of the reasons behind the Twins’ delay in deciding where to trade Jhoan Duran. For the Yankees, though, it’s just another few hours left to bolster their bullpen. Just that they should avoid being the Cubs in Seth Lugo’s trade.