Most of the trade grade articles I read gave the Phillies the edge (A range for them, B range for Twins). They all mention Tait is "years" away [Gelb, I think, said four]. A lot of talk that Twins are a good place for Abel. But Law still kind of withering on him.
Another thing I saw mentioned several times is Duran's control matches the "Wheeler Window."
Abel was the Phillies’ 2020 first-round pick, the best high school pitcher in his class, boasting size, stuff and a good delivery he could repeat for future command … and that hasn’t happened, at all. He’s regularly up to 98, can really spin the ball, with the curve and slider at least 55s (on the 20-80 scouting scale), but he has 40 fastball command, and lefties demolished him in the majors.
After two walk-free starts to begin his big-league career — one against the Pittsburgh Pirates — he walked nine in 14 innings, and over his entire big-league tenure to date, he’s allowed a .621 slugging percentage to lefties. He’s a project at this point, because he needs a better fourth pitch, but more because he needs to locate everything, and especially the fastball, a lot more effectively than he does. This is more or less what he’s been since High A, at least, and I have always been perplexed by the high walk rates and poor command.
