A Light‑Hearted Reckoning at the All-Star Game
At the recent All-Star Game, during the Home Run Derby night, veteran MLB insider Jeff Passan found himself on the receiving end of an unexpected question from reliever Jhoan Durán.
Durán, still smarting from a trade rumor that slipped through Passan’s fingers in July 2025, asked the journalist how he gathers his news, catching the reporter off guard.
Passan recalled the frustration of watching his line about Durán’s potential move to Seattle crumble when Ken Rosenthal’s tweet broke the story while he was stuck in a meeting, describing the feeling as "the biggest dick punch imaginable".
He explained that his usual instinct is to step back once a deal appears imminent, letting the story surface on its own, a habit that backfired in this particular case.
The exchange unfolded in the National League clubhouse, a setting that added a layer of irony given Durán’s role in the earlier reporting misstep.
Passan’s humor shone through as he turned the question around, offering to trade Durán’s free‑agency plans for the scoop‑sharing advice, a quip that underscored the camaraderie among baseball’s media and players.
The moment also highlighted the broader media landscape, where platforms like Twitter serve as the battleground for breaking news, and where even seasoned reporters can be humbled by a timely tweet.