Twins improve Pitching Staff

On Friday, the Minnesota Twins traded the AL batting champ and their starting second baseman for Marlins RH starter Pablo Lopez and some teenage prospects.

Though they gave up one of the best contact hitters in the game last season, Minnesota was able to address a glaring weakness. Lopez is a 26-year-old RHP from Venezuela, who in 32 starts last season, accumulated a 10-10 record with a 3.75 ERA. Lopez’s arsenal features a high 90’s fastball with a changeup that hovers around 88, alongside a big looping curveball which helped him punch 174 hitters out in 2022.

For the Marlins, they add another high-contact infield bat. With the addition of Jean Segura earlier this offseason, the arrival of Arraez not only adds another brilliant bat, but it oddly will result in All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm converting to Center Field full-time.

Lopez will slot in at the top of Minnesota’s pitching rotation, likely at number two behind Sony Grey. Minnesota’s starting rotation featured 14 different starting pitchers last season. The hope is that Kenta Maeda, Bailey Ober and Tyler Mahle will return from an injury-riddled season with full health and a competitive five-man rotation with the newest addition in Lopez.

This is a lateral move for Miami, as their lineup still lacks substantial pop, and their pitching rotation is now a little weaker. However, for the Twins, this was a necessary deal that increases their chances of making the playoffs, as their pitching staff ranked 19th in the MLB last season.