Minnesota Twins "More Likely" To Move Pablo Lopez Than Joe Ryan

[Matthew Lenz]

The Minnesota Twins' direction this offseason has been unclear to this point. From Derek Falvey's quote suggesting the team wants to build around its nucleus to rumors suggesting the Twins could continue their trade-deadline fire sale this offseason, it has left fans wondering about the organization's direction. In a recent column in the NY Post from Joel Sherman, the offseason got a little murkier.

Though he didn't say the Twins are actively shopping either pitcher, he suggested the Twins are "more likely" to move Pablo Lopez than Joe Ryan.

Lopez, who is owed more than $43 million through 2027, only made 14 starts in 2025. In 75 2/3 innings, the righty sported a solid 3.19 FIP and mediocre 17% K-BB rate. While he had been one of the game's more durable pitchers before last season, his tenure with the Twins has been very up and down. While trading the 30-year-old at some point seems likely, Lopez's value right now is lower than it's ever been.

While the Twins are more concerned with the bottom line than maximizing value, they would be remiss to deal the righty now instead of waiting until the 2026 trade deadline. Do you think now is the time to move on from Lopez? Let us know in the comments!

View full rumor

[yeahyabetcha]

53 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

The Minnesota Twins' direction this offseason has been unclear to this point. From Derek Falvey's quote suggesting the team wants to build around its nucleus to rumors suggesting the Twins could continue their trade-deadline fire sale this offseason, it has left fans wondering about the organization's direction. In a recent column in the NY Post from Joel Sherman, the offseason got a little murkier.

Though he didn't say the Twins are actively shopping either pitcher, he suggested the Twins are "more likely" to move Pablo Lopez than Joe Ryan.

Lopez, who is owed more than $43 million through 2027, only made 14 starts in 2025. In 75 2/3 innings, the righty sported a solid 3.19 FIP and mediocre 17% K-BB rate. While he had been one of the game's more durable pitchers before last season, his tenure with the Twins has been very up and down. While trading the 30-year-old at some point seems likely, Lopez's value right now is lower than it's ever been.

While the Twins are more concerned with the bottom line than maximizing value, they would be remiss to deal the righty now instead of waiting until the 2026 trade deadline. Do you think now is the time to move on from Lopez? Let us know in the comments!

 

View full rumor

 

I didn’t get access to read the column.  What did Falvey say to indicate that Pablo is “more likely “ to be moved than Ryan?

[TopGunn#22]

I would think exactly the opposite.  Both pitchers are quite similar statistically.  And they are both close in age.  The huge difference is in what each is making for a salary and as a result, Joe Ryan would bring back a much better player package.  The $21.7 million Lopez is making in 2026 is actually a tremendous bargain for a pitcher of his caliber.  With so many minimum salaries scattered throughout the Twins roster, the highest salary doesn’t need to be moved.  You go for the bigger return in talent Joe Ryan brings back.

[tony&rodney]

Everything depends on the budget. The Twins can keep Lopez, Ryan, Buxton, and Jeffers in addition to signing Bo Bichette for around a team total of $110M. 

The little deals around the fringes could be huge if Falvey and his crew can pull of a few gambles.

A caveat about these rumors - they may have access but are not necessarily any better than anyone's guesses on here. There are really incredible suggestions from a few people. I saw one (in Yahoo) that suggested the Mets trade McLean, Tong, Sproat, and Ewing for Lopez. Now that is crazy. Twins would love that deal.

I'm hoping there are a number of moves before December ends, three or four at a minimum.

[mnfireman]

National media speculating on smaller market teams being unable to have nice toys...

[Cory Engelhardt]

The Falvey led front office has been, for nothing else, really good about not having any leaks come out before something/anything happens.

Thats not to say that they will nor won’t trade anyone. 
 

But thinking this came from someone inside the front office, to me, is just not feasible. My guess is it’s someone from the Mets that wants one or the other.

Hopefully they have a good offseason

[tony&rodney]

9 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

The Falvey led front office has been, for nothing else, really good about not having any leaks come out before something/anything happens.

Thats not to say that they will nor won’t trade anyone. 
 

But thinking this came from someone inside the front office, to me, is just not feasible. My guess is it’s someone from the Mets that wants one or the other.

Hopefully they have a good offseason

I appreciate their leak-proof methods as well. It is a feature of the front office I like. The big concern is a lack of transactions. There was quite a shift in coaching personell and I'm hoping for several strategic trades to get completed. 

As mentioned elsewhere, and by others, the budget is key. $120M seems fair and it should not fall below $110-115M. In that range there is room to swing big, which seems very unlikely. It would take quite a bit of pressure off of the less experienced players.

Just a few well placed moves would bring about some hope for 2026.

[Chembry]

28 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Everything depends on the budget. 

 

The statement above is key...

I was listening to a Twins podcast today and Falvey directly stated during the GM meetings that the Twins were asking for MLB ready players at the trade deadline.  Which is why we got Bradley, Abel, Roden, and Outman.  Speculation by the podcasters was that Falvey viewed the deadline fire sale as more of a retool vs a rebuild.  Probably thinking that the Twins knew the payroll after the trades would be ~$90M and presuming the Twins would have a similar ~$135M opening day payroll in 2026 as they did in 2025.  That would give the Twins ~$40M to spend this off season.  

Falvey also stated in the GM Meetings that they are waiting for MLB approval of the minority partners to discuss payroll and get their ideas.

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I appreciate their leak-proof methods as well. It is a feature of the front office I like. The big concern is a lack of transactions. There was quite a shift in coaching personell and I'm hoping for several strategic trades to get completed. 

As mentioned elsewhere, and by others, the budget is key. $120M seems fair and it should not fall below $110-115M. In that range there is room to swing big, which seems very unlikely. It would take quite a bit of pressure off of the less experienced players.

Just a few well placed moves would bring about some hope for 2026.

Agreed. Frankly their budget SHOULD be more like 180. But I agree otherwise. Hoping for 100 feels like asking for more gruel.

 

[Doctor Gast]

50 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I would think exactly the opposite.  Both pitchers are quite similar statistically.  And they are both close in age.  The huge difference is in what each is making for a salary and as a result, Joe Ryan would bring back a much better player package.  The $21.7 million Lopez is making in 2026 is actually a tremendous bargain for a pitcher of his caliber.  With so many minimum salaries scattered throughout the Twins roster, the highest salary doesn’t need to be moved.  You go for the bigger return in talent Joe Ryan brings back.

When investing in stocks, you buy low & sell high. IMO, there is no difference in whatever you deal in. Lopez's stock is low; you don't sell him, his stock will rise. Lopez has a stabilizing effect on the pitching staff, I wouldn't trade him.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

When investing in stocks, you buy low & sell high. IMO, there is no difference in whatever you deal in. Lopez's stock is low; you don't sell him, his stock will rise. Lopez has a stabilizing effect on the pitching staff, I wouldn't trade him.

I always buy high and sell low because as the saying goes, "Lucky in money, unlucky in love" .... "Lucky in love, unlucky in money." 

[Doctor Gast]

8 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I always buy high and sell low because as the saying goes, "Lucky in money, unlucky in love" .... "Lucky in love, unlucky in money." 

Are you saying we're unlucky in love? Although it takes some luck in each, you have to put the work in each.

[ashbury]

15 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I always buy high and sell low because as the saying goes, "Lucky in money, unlucky in love" .... "Lucky in love, unlucky in money." 

That's "lucky at cards."  Buying low and selling high is the essence of poker, methinks, unless you're the fish.   😄

[Whitey333]

Well I'm assuming the Twins will trade both Ryan and Lopez and perhaps they should.  Lopez simply because of hus salary.  Keeping a pitcher at 22.5 million this year just doesn't fit the organizations budget.  And he is not a deal or underpaid at that salary.  Come on he only plays once per week or so.  I think they will just get a couple prospects for him to dump salary.  Ryan they could presumably get something decent in return.  Plus the last two seasons he had poor second halves looking tired and ineffective.  Im concerned in that regard.  If you aren't planning on being competitive in 2026 then make your best deal for him this off season.

[saviking]

I've been saying they shoukd trade Pablo and use his money to try and sign Ryan to a long term contract with it. 

[TNtwins85]

19 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Everything depends on the budget. The Twins can keep Lopez, Ryan, Buxton, and Jeffers in addition to signing Bo Bichette for around a team total of $110M. 

The little deals around the fringes could be huge if Falvey and his crew can pull of a few gambles.

A caveat about these rumors - they may have access but are not necessarily any better than anyone's guesses on here. There are really incredible suggestions from a few people. I saw one (in Yahoo) that suggested the Mets trade McLean, Tong, Sproat, and Ewing for Lopez. Now that is crazy. Twins would love that deal.

I'm hoping there are a number of moves before December ends, three or four at a minimum.

If that’s the deal you trade Lopez for sure!

[Blyleven2011]

I can't believe Lopez value is as low as some are stating  , injury and salary aside he is a solid pitcher that twins fans once thought was our number one guy , a stopper ....

Pitching is what every team is looking for ...

Pablo has value if traded , teams will look beyond his injuries to a certain extent ( check medical records ), and look at his past performances when healthy  ...

They do the same in free agency  , they throw money out to a player on his past performances and gamble on his future , Pablo has 2 years remaining on contract and possibly a 3rd if qualified offer is considered ...⁰

Does he have the same value as Ryan  , thats not up to me to decided , other teams will decide his value or falvey will just dump him for salary relief and get nothing , see Correa deadline trades  ...

Our top players as of now are Buxton , Lopez,  Ryan ,  ( keaschall , SSS ) and Jeffers   , don't underestimate their value ...

Im just glad Lopez wasn't traded at last year's deadline because he was injured ( and you all know lopez would have been moved ) , cause falvey was dumping salaries for buckets of balls and bats  , he has more value now as other teams want to stabilize their pitching rotations  , will he have more value at next year's deadline if healthy maybe so ...

Pitchers have injuries , Lopez and Ryan are no different  , Lopez has been more durable when healthy through a full season  , Ryan has had good first halves only to tire down the stretch in second half in a healthy season ...

[Jeff K]

I am starting to wonder about the proposed Minority Owners.  It has been some time since it was announced that the Pohlad's were bringing them on.  Has the deal fallen through?  The Twins seem to be waiting on a resolution on their status before deciding on the plan for 2026.  Of course, I recognize that this is pure speculation, but it's enough to concern me.

[lecroy24fan]

22 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

I am starting to wonder about the proposed Minority Owners.  It has been some time since it was announced that the Pohlad's were bringing them on.  Has the deal fallen through?  The Twins seem to be waiting on a resolution on their status before deciding on the plan for 2026.  Of course, I recognize that this is pure speculation, but it's enough to concern me.

MLB has not approved them yet. That is why we don't know who they are.

[Chembry]

37 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

I am starting to wonder about the proposed Minority Owners.  It has been some time since it was announced that the Pohlad's were bringing them on.  Has the deal fallen through?  The Twins seem to be waiting on a resolution on their status before deciding on the plan for 2026.  Of course, I recognize that this is pure speculation, but it's enough to concern me.

Falvey stated at the GM meeting last week that they are waiting for MLB to approve the minority partners.  He also specifically stated once they are approved, they will discuss payroll and get the minority partners ideas on payroll.  

[Parfigliano]

On 11/15/2025 at 11:45 AM, mnfireman said:

National media speculating on smaller market teams being unable to have nice toys...

As predictable as night following day.

[Parfigliano]

On 11/15/2025 at 12:23 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

Agreed. Frankly their budget SHOULD be more like 180. But I agree otherwise. Hoping for 100 feels like asking for more gruel.

 

More cold gruel.  Not the much more satisfying hot gruel. 

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, Jeff K said:

I am starting to wonder about the proposed Minority Owners.  It has been some time since it was announced that the Pohlad's were bringing them on.  Has the deal fallen through?  The Twins seem to be waiting on a resolution on their status before deciding on the plan for 2026.  Of course, I recognize that this is pure speculation, but it's enough to concern me.

The time it's taking to approve these alleged minority owners makes me think they're the Gambino Family.

[DocBauer]

I don't want to move Lopez. (Or Ryan). But for giggles, I read an online proposal from Clutch Points...which I'm not familiar with...that the Dodgers might make a play for Lopez. 

It was badly posted as part of the package was mentioned but not all details were included. Weird.

DODGERS RECEIVE:

Lopez 

Bonus International Signing $

TWINS RECEIVE:

C/1B Dalton Rushing (former #1)

SS/3B/2B Alex Freeland (#4)

LHP Brent Wrobleski...but I believe they mean JUSTIN Wrobleski...former LH SP converted to the pen currently. 

And an unnamed 4th prospect.

Rushing and Freeland are top 4 prospects recently who haven't found daily duty with the Dodgers yet. But I think the Twins would need a better 3rd option that was a quality arm at AA or above.

At least it's an interesting idea. But I don't know if the Dodgers have any actual interest in Lopez or not.

And again, I don't want to move him.

[twinstalker]

On 11/15/2025 at 12:14 PM, TopGunn#22 said:

I would think exactly the opposite.  Both pitchers are quite similar statistically.  And they are both close in age.  The huge difference is in what each is making for a salary and as a result, Joe Ryan would bring back a much better player package.  The $21.7 million Lopez is making in 2026 is actually a tremendous bargain for a pitcher of his caliber.  With so many minimum salaries scattered throughout the Twins roster, the highest salary doesn’t need to be moved.  You go for the bigger return in talent Joe Ryan brings back.

You're assuming the goal is to improve the team, long-term.  I doubt that is the priority.  Ryan is cheap this year still and even next year ,comparatively.  The Twins priority is likely to rid themselves of salary.

[Chembry]

12 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I don't want to move Lopez. (Or Ryan). But for giggles, I read an online proposal from Clutch Points...which I'm not familiar with...that the Dodgers might make a play for Lopez. 

It was badly posted as part of the package was mentioned but not all details were included. Weird.

DODGERS RECEIVE:

Lopez 

Bonus International Signing $

TWINS RECEIVE:

C/1B Dalton Rushing (former #1)

SS/3B/2B Alex Freeland (#4)

LHP Brent Wrobleski...but I believe they mean JUSTIN Wrobleski...former LH SP converted to the pen currently. 

And an unnamed 4th prospect.

Rushing and Freeland are top 4 prospects recently who haven't found daily duty with the Dodgers yet. But I think the Twins would need a better 3rd option that was a quality arm at AA or above.

At least it's an interesting idea. But I don't know if the Dodgers have any actual interest in Lopez or not.

And again, I don't want to move him.

I am not sure why the Dodgers would want to pursue starting pitching...They have Ohtani, Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, River Ryan, Gavin Stone and Emmet Sheehan as starting pitchers.  River Ryan is coming off of TJ surgery and Gavin Stone had shoulder surgery.  Both missed 2025 due to injuries, but were very good in 2024.  Sasaki and Sheehan were used out of the bullpen in the playoffs.  

I don't think the author is up to date on the Dodgers...In another article published by the same author on November 15th, a trade proposal for Steven Kwan offered up James Outman in return...

I do like the Rushing and Freeland part of the trade though.   

[DJL44]

I hope Bailey Ober is even more likely to be traded than Lopez. They need to deal one starting pitcher, otherwise someone who has no business pitching in AAA will be stuck in AAA this season. This team is going to need to continually trade old and expensive for young and cheap.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Chembry said:

I am not sure why the Dodgers would want to pursue starting pitching...They have Ohtani, Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, River Ryan, Gavin Stone and Emmet Sheehan as starting pitchers.  River Ryan is coming off of TJ surgery and Gavin Stone had shoulder surgery.  Both missed 2025 due to injuries, but were very good in 2024.  Sasaki and Sheehan were used out of the bullpen in the playoffs.  

I don't think the author is up to date on the Dodgers...In another article published by the same author on November 15th, a trade proposal for Steven Kwan offered up James Outman in return...

I do like the Rushing and Freeland part of the trade though.   

TC should offer Outman for Kwan ASAP.

[PatPfund]

They should trade neither before mid-season unless the deal is sensationally in their favor. A) They don't need salary relief post-deadline purge. B) They need to sort out at least some of the prospects that are starting to fill the 40-man (with another 4-6 coming pre-Rule 5) before adding another bucket-load to the system. C) The only way this team competes next year is with really good SPs carrying the load while the position peeps sort out. Cleveland's been doing it for years, and the Twins probably want the revenue boost only competing can bring. D) They'll likely get more mid-season, because teams lose a bit of reason at the deadline especially when it comes to SPs. Plus, Ryan will have pitched what is usually his best half, and Pablo may well be healthy and dominant again.

[jctwins]

23 hours ago, Jeff K said:

I am starting to wonder about the proposed Minority Owners.  It has been some time since it was announced that the Pohlad's were bringing them on.  Has the deal fallen through?  The Twins seem to be waiting on a resolution on their status before deciding on the plan for 2026.  Of course, I recognize that this is pure speculation, but it's enough to concern me.

The complete silence on direction and specifics suggests they know the announcement won't go well. They're looking to bury the specifics, which probably includes a full strip down and tank.