Jhoan Duran might have pulled the greatest trade deadline prank of all time

Twins reliever and Phillies trade target Jhoan Duran made headlines Tuesday night with the simplest of gestures. TV cameras caught him grabbing his glove, hugging someone, and exiting the bullpen.

Jhoan Duran and his bullpen catcher hugged it out and set the baseball world ablaze:

Jhoan Duran and the bullpen catcher just pump faked a trade by hugging and leaving the pen

Top 5 troll ever pic.twitter.com/4LWPVJJ99w
— AT (@YankeeWRLD) July 30, 2025

That is, until Jeff Passan spoiled the fun.

Jhoan Duran has not been traded. He was just hugging his bullpen catcher because that's what friends do sometimes.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2025

Some sources are saying they even kissed. But that’s neither here nor there.

What is important is that, if this was indeed an intentional pump fake, it was so well executed by everyone in the bullpen that I can’t even be mad. Every guy in frame looks unhappy, and that hug (and potential kiss) seemed so real.

I’ll admit it… I was had myself. I was ready to be all over whatever trade news broke. Well, until it didn’t.

But there’s still a story here. There always is. If this was an intentional thing, I have exactly two things to say to Duran.

Go fuck yourself
That was hilarious

Look, there are about 15 players that I want the Phillies to trade for before the deadline, but Duran would obviously be a great addition. Combine that with the potential excitement of a big deadline move by Dave Dombrowski (foolish, I know), and I can’t help but feel let down.

Sure, I know Sleepy Dave isn’t going to do a damn thing. Maybe trade for a pitcher and a platoon bat that nobody cares about. Who even cares anymore.

But, man, for a second, I had hope, which is crueler than any sadness once it’s ripped away.

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