Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account
  • entries
    99
  • comments
    1,058
  • views
    160,514

Updated Twins/Yankees Moves


Twins Video

The Twins would be remiss if they didnt inquire on a Yankees trade involving Pablo Lopez. I have mentioned this  before in other ramblings.

But with both the Gerrit Cole TJ confirmation and Stanton looking toast, The Twins owe it to themselves to try and go big.

Lopez last year had an up and down year, a bad first 3 months then a good july and August, followed by an average September.  I love Lopez, I think we all love Lopez. While it was just 1 year, and it wasn't a HORRIBLE year, it still was his highest ERA, WHIP, and BAA since 2019. Is it a sign of things to come as he starts the 1st of 3 years at $21.5M?

If we cant get much for him, then it is worth keeping him and assuming the blip. If we could get a strong return, then the Twins should consider movign him (somewhat sadly).

How can we get a haul?

Even the Yankees hit a payroll threshold at some point, and given they tried trading away Stroman and his $18M during offseason I think shows they are at that point. They wouldnt be super excited about taking on $21M, even for a top of the rotation arm like Lopez. so how do we incentivize?  By taking back salary from them.

Trading Lopez would not be a salary dumping move by the Twins at this point, it would be an asset collecting move.

Stanton will be lucky to provide the Yankees anything this year... possibly ever???  So lets have the Twins take him on and his Salary. We eat 100% of his salary this year and the Yanks eat the remaining salary for future years. Heck for the right value in return it wouldn't be horrible for the Twins to take on the entire contract.  For this year Stanton's $32M would be partially offset by movign Lopez's $21.5M. and if we throw in a potential lefty DH like Larnach in the deal that is another $2M. so this deal would increase our payroll by about $8M thi syear and not add talent to the roster. This doesnt sound good at face value.  BUT...

 

the next 2 years of Stantons deal are $29M and $25M, of which Miami is still paying $10M each year, so the cost to the Twins would be $19M and $15M.  vs Lopez's $21.5M each year, if you look at it over a 3 year span it is a break even proposition. (and this trade brings up  potential side trade below).

Lets say Yankees retain the $19M and $15M  that is not owed by Miami over the next 2 years, and we eat the full salary for this year. If we send Lopez and say a lefty DH/OF in Larnach. could we get either George Lombard (1st option) or Spencer Jones (2nd option) .. or both????

If we could get either of them, then this screams to be done, as mentioned while we increase payroll this year by $8M, if the Yankees eat payroll the next 2 years then we clear $21.5M each of the next 2 years. That alone is a win. 1 year of "wasted"$8M in exchange for $43M saving over the next 2 years, PLUS get a top prospect??

PLUS... We would have an inside track on the option to trade for a pitcher at the trade deadline to replace the quality of Lopez.

We all know Miami is going to be horrible again, we all know Miami will look to move money. With us now owning Stanton's contract, we would have the option of taking on the $10M Miami owes Stanton each of the final years in order to maximize a return.

Would a struggling Miami team that is losing money be willing to trade Sandy Alcantara (save his $17.3M) for little return if they are also freed up from the $10M commitment to Stanton?  Maybe even Alcantara and Max Meyer in exchange for the $10M annually and an expendable depth piece between Brooks Lee, Eduard Julien, Juan Miranda? 

The Twins are in position to leverage our rotational depth to get a top prospect(s) from the Yankees, and even resecure/upgrade rotational depth.

 

 

 

17 Comments


Recommended Comments

William Malone

Posted

The Yankees budget is not infinity. They’re still very cautious about how big their luxury tax bill is. It’s a champagne problem. Twins fans would love to have ownership/front office who is concerned about where are the luxury tax line is. But giving a $21m hit that Lopez brings to the Yankees would make the twins take a bad contract back. Yes, you could get some good prospects. You’d also have DJ LeMahieu taking out bats away from some of your young infielders as a result

tony&rodney

Posted

If, if, the Twins were open to trading Pablo Lopez there would be multiple calls from all around MLB. Unfortunately, the Yankees have nobody of interest to the Twins. Aaron judge has a salary beyond reach and a NTC. The hype behind Jasson Dominguez is going to be tested this season and he is not considered as good a prospect as any of the top 3 Twins prospects. The Yankees prospects have always benefitted from big press due to their market. George Lombard is not as good as Kaelen Culpepper. The Yankees have nothing to offer the Twins, nothing .... unless you think the Yanks would trade Austin Wells to MN for Chris Paddack and that is not happening. So, no deals are even possible between these teams.

I would urge people interested in prospects to watch them 25-50 times this summer via milb.com if they are able to do so and thus gain a more direct feel for who can do what. Better yet, try to get to several minor league games.

DJL44

Posted

Cole's injury stinks if you're a fan of counting stats for pitchers. He had the best shot at 250 wins of any active pitcher under 35 and now that looks unlikely. Chris Sale might not make it to 200 wins. Aaron Nola has a shot. The 200 game winner is the new 300 game winner.

mluebker

Posted

I can't for the life of me think of a reason why the Twins should trade Pablo Gomez for prospects. They actually have a pretty plausible rotation, so why decapitate it at the beginning of the season?

JD-TWINS

Posted

Trading for Stanton is the most bizarre take I’ve seen in my 3 plus years following TD. This is regardless of who trade pieces might be.

Trading Lopez & Larnach or Wallner to free up $$ to pay Stanton (who is always injured) so they might get Alcantara and Meyers from Florida………it reads like……, I can’t say it here. Bizarre thought.

1 of 2 prospects from Yankees for proven MLB players like Larnach & Lopez…….again, bizarre. “screaming to be done…..”?? NOT.

You “clear $21.5M for 2 years……” but you don’t have Pablo Lopez ……you may have some arm the Yankees or Marlins don’t think is good enough to start on their teams.

chpettit19

Posted

If the Twins are just interested in clearing Lopez's money and getting a prospect or 2 in return they could just put him on the market and get plenty of Lombard or Jones type prospects offered to them without taking on any Stanton money.

Crochet is better, and currently cheaper, than Lopez, but he also has less team control left before he gets crazy expensive. He brought back 2 top 50ish global prospects and 2 other top 15ish system prospects. Why would the Twins trade one of their top 3 arms and take on Stanton to possibly get a borderline top 100 global prospect? The Yankees system is not good. Being the 2nd or 3rd ranked prospect in their system doesn't mean they're worthy of this kind of trade.

The Yankees should be getting a call from the Twins and seeing if they want Paddack, not Lopez. That's what I expected to see when I clicked on this blog. The Yankees don't have the pieces to get Lopez as many other teams could easily beat the package they could put together, even without taking on Stanton. Paddack is who the Twins should be offering the Yankees.

Jeff K

Posted

8 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

If the Twins are just interested in clearing Lopez's money and getting a prospect or 2 in return they could just put him on the market and get plenty of Lombard or Jones type prospects offered to them without taking on any Stanton money.

Crochet is better, and currently cheaper, than Lopez, but he also has less team control left before he gets crazy expensive. He brought back 2 top 50ish global prospects and 2 other top 15ish system prospects. Why would the Twins trade one of their top 3 arms and take on Stanton to possibly get a borderline top 100 global prospect? The Yankees system is not good. Being the 2nd or 3rd ranked prospect in their system doesn't mean they're worthy of this kind of trade.

The Yankees should be getting a call from the Twins and seeing if they want Paddack, not Lopez. That's what I expected to see when I clicked on this blog. The Yankees don't have the pieces to get Lopez as many other teams could easily beat the package they could put together, even without taking on Stanton. Paddack is who the Twins should be offering the Yankees.

I actually think this might be the ideal time to move Paddack to the Yanks.  And trading Lopez; heck no!  His salary is big for the Twins, but for a 1 or 2 in the rotation...he is a good value.  I am not a Paddack hater, I think he can bring value (albeit overpaid).  that said, the Twins can get something for Paddack and it opens up a slot for one of the youngsters.  And it opens up payroll for a bigger move when the Twins are doing great at the trade deadline.

Senior Softball Guy

Posted

2 hours ago, mluebker said:

I can't for the life of me think of a reason why the Twins should trade Pablo Gomez for prospects. They actually have a pretty plausible rotation, so why decapitate it at the beginning of the season?

....or Pablo Lopez....

Doctor Gast

Posted

I wouldn't trade with NYY unless it's an overkill on our part. NYY doesn't really have anyone I'd be interested in, certainly not Stanton, especially not for Lopez.

Otaknam

Posted

A waste of time clickbait! Trade your top starting pitcher for some convoluted deal involving the always injured Stanton, in the hopes that down the road you would make it pay off for another top starter? Meanwhile, your rotation is kneecapped. No thanks! 

Twins_Fan_in_NJ

Posted

A few folks in the media up here are speculating that Stanton may not play again - between the seriousness of the current injuries and just overall his body continues to break down. No team would even think about trading for him.

tony&rodney

Posted

2 hours ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

A few folks in the media up here are speculating that Stanton may not play again - between the seriousness of the current injuries and just overall his body continues to break down. No team would even think about trading for him.

Everyone knows that. The post was likely humor/trolling. No worries.

mluebker

Posted

On 3/11/2025 at 11:18 AM, Senior Softball Guy said:

....or Pablo Lopez....

Oops!

dxpavelka

Posted

The Yankees have a need so let's trade or best pitcher.  How about we use the fact that we have three of the twenty best starting pitchers in the game to OUR advantage on the field.  The drop off beyond the big three is massive.  Why mess the best thing that you have going for you?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...