Twins Acquire Orioles Closer Jorge Lopez

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Current state of the bullpen

1. RHP Duran

2. RHP Lopez

3. RHP Jax

4. LHP Thielbar

5. LHP Moran

6. ??? Trade ???

7. ??? Someone until Maeda is ready, then Maeda

8. ??? Best performing of the guys who are bad

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Alex Schieferdecker said:

Current state of the bullpen

1. RHP Duran

2. RHP Lopez

3. RHP Jax

4. LHP Thielbar

5. LHP Moran

6. ??? Trade ???

7. ??? Someone until Maeda is ready, then Maeda

8. ??? Best performing of the guys who are bad

Another trade acquisition who can slot ahead of Jax is ideal. I’d call that a successful trade deadline. 

[jmlease1]

38 minutes ago, Karbo said:

Until Jeffers gets back (mid to late Sept.) Catcher is a black hole. The cost should be minimal. We have little to no depth at catcher. Getting a backup would mean we have more depth for next year too.

Few teams have any real depth at catcher? And what do we want to give up for a 1-month rental of a player who again, is likely to only be a backup. regardless of what Rosenthal reported, the Twins aren't going to lose the AL Central because of a lack of offense at catcher.

I'd like to see them supplement Lopez with another bullpen arm, but I'd be even happier if we're able to put together a deal for Mahle, who would also plug in next season just fine. I'm always a little more interested in giving up real prospect capital for guys who are more than a short rental.

[TopGunn#22]

This is a GREAT move !!  hate to give up Povich but 2.5 years of control for Lopez is tremendous.  I have been advocating for the Twins to get him and have even suggested several trades on TD.  Rocco should put Lopez as his primary closer and use Duran as the 8th inning guy who can close when Lopez is not available.  

This is a solid addition to the back end and hopefully we can land Pablo Lopez or Tyler Mahle later today.  Way to go F.O. !!!!

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Another trade acquisition who can slot ahead of Jax is ideal. I’d call that a successful trade deadline. 

A starting pitcher so they don't have to use Aaron Sanchez again would also be nice. Even better if they're good enough that the Twins don't have to start Archer or Bundy in a wild-card playoff series elimination game.

[Shaitan]

Either Povich is very slow to develop, or there is a typo in his draft year.

[Steve71]

Decent move.  Don't like throwing in the two DSL prospects, would have preferred to add a bat instead, but the O's probably did not want that for Lopez.

Would like them to add Robertson from the Cubs, and the bullpen would become a position of strength.  Not sure what that would cost, should be much lower than Lopez's price.

[Shaitan]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Lopez is also starting arbitration off a tiny base salary of $1.5M. He should be cheap the next couple seasons.

Better give him the 8th and not the 9th, then.

**ducks**

Sorry, but somebody had to make a "cheap Pohlands" comment.

[h2oface]

Great. Now get Davud Robertson. 

[Monkeypaws]

Here's hoping this Bird in hand will be worth 4 in the bush, bush leagues that is.

Addressing your #1 need with no immediate cost, lots to like.

 

I did watch Povich pitch in Cedar Rapids, and he does look like a goodie. Wish him and the others well.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, roger said:

Was it last year or earlier that their trade wasn't announced until shortly after the deadline?  Sincerely hope they don't make us wait that long for whatever move(s) they still need to make.

Sam Dyson.

Wish they'd been a minute too late with that one actually.

[h2oface]

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

Until Jeffers gets back (mid to late Sept.) Catcher is a black hole. The cost should be minimal. We have little to no depth at catcher. Getting a backup would mean we have more depth for next year too.

Even with Jeffers, the hole is sucking energy from the universe.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

He's only in A ball. I think you'd be reading too much into that.

...and it seems like the financial concept of "Net Present Value" gets overlooked a lot. 

i.e. having a good player with surplus value now provides more investment value than it would in the future.

I look at it as we're getting a guy who looks like a great relief pitcher with a ton of surplus value (cheap for WAR) when the Twins have a huge need for that player in a season where the Twins are in a position for a potential playoff run.

Even if Cade Povich turns into a good starter, we weren't going to see him for at least 2 more years, when the Twins might be struggling so even if he was a 3.0 WAR pitcher, his contributions to the team might not have moved the needle much in terms of true value to the club. 

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Alex Schieferdecker said:

Current state of the bullpen

1. RHP Duran

2. RHP Lopez

3. RHP Jax

4. LHP Thielbar

5. LHP Moran

6. ??? Trade ???

7. ??? Someone until Maeda is ready, then Maeda

8. ??? Best performing of the guys who are bad

That's a nice solid bullpen, IMHO. Having two guys both worth closer duty and a couple solid middle relievers goes a long, long ways.

Jax adding 2.5mph to his already improved fastball from last year has really let his slider play better and it's seemingly turned Jax into a solid reliever. Jax has exceeded my expectations and I think he may have achieved his ceiling. Really great for him and the Twins. I couldn't be happier for all involved.

[roger]

18 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Sam Dyson.

Wish they'd been a minute too late with that one actually.

Had forgotten who it was, but you are right.  Cannot believe that the Giants had zero knowledge of his injury.

[Danchat]

27 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Sam Dyson.

Wish they'd been a minute too late with that one actually.

Despite all of our ragging on that trade, we lost no prospects worth of value - the Giants only have Kai-Wei Teng left from that deal, who is a starter at AA and is struggling. It would be another story if we moved someone who is contributing to our current team.

[jimbo92107]

Good trade. Other than Povich, remarkably little bleeding. Cano has a lively arm, but was not reliable. Baltimore's pitching coaches must think they can solve that problem. The other two guys are just throwers at this point. Povich could blossom into a good starter. Good luck to him. 

Jorge Lopez was one of the prime trade targets, and they got him. If they trade for one good starter, then Twins can move Archer to the pen, where right now he might still contribute. That would largely fix the whole pitching staff with reasonable arms. 

[Minny505]

2 hours ago, Karbo said:

Until Jeffers gets back (mid to late Sept.) Catcher is a black hole. The cost should be minimal. We have little to no depth at catcher. Getting a backup would mean we have more depth for next year too.

I'm all for a backup that is an upgrade on Hamilton if it costs peanuts and cracker jacks. I just don't know if that is available. If it is, pull that trigger.

[HrbieFan]

5 hours ago, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

4 players seems like kind of a lot to give up for a reliever, although Canó may be in the deal more for an immediate fill-in for López' spot than for expected future value.

But the quantity of players given up isn't a reason to knock the move. Acquiring López clearly fills a need and I'm glad to see it.

2 of the guys given up are lottery tickets and 3+ years away at best. Cano hasn't handled the bigs very well this year, but he has some talent. Well worth the gamble IMO. We could have traded Blaze and Enlow a few years ago for a dang good arm, prospects are ammo until they prove otherwise 

[twinstalker]

He has six losses?  That's a lot.  How many blown saves?

I like that the Twins didn't just look at their own experience with Lopez like they did with Craig Monroe.

[Doctor Gast]

Hope Lopez is available tonite

[IndianaTwin]

8 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Glad to see the Twins got "Cash" in the deal. Man, hate to see something like that be a deal breaker. Thankfully that means Lopez can fly to the Twins Cities.

Norm Cash? Dave? I didn't know either was still in the majors.

[Karbo]

On 8/2/2022 at 9:59 AM, Karbo said:

Great way to start the day! Now please get another bullpen arm and maybe a backup catcher? Another starter would be nice also, but I don't see that happening.

The FO must be reading these posts! LOL

[USAFChief]

On 8/2/2022 at 7:23 PM, IndianaTwin said:

Norm Cash? Dave? I didn't know either was still in the majors.

Straight Cash, homie.