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Twins trade details: Minnesota land closer Jorge Lopez from Orioles

By Tim Boyle

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 23: Jorge Lopez #48 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 23: Jorge Lopez #48 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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The latest Minnesota Twins trade lands them an All-Star closer from the Baltimore Orioles.

The Minnesota Twins aren’t going to let their lead in the American League Central disappear. With no sure bet in the closer spot, they turned to the Baltimore Orioles for some help by acquiring All-Star closer Jorge Lopez.

Lopez has been one of the better stories of the 2022 season on a Baltimore team that has exceeded expectations. He leaves the Orioles with a 4-6 record, 1.68 ERA, and 19 saves.

With one move, the Twins finally have an answer in the ninth inning.

Twins trade details with the Orioles for Jorge Lopez

Rather than try to compete for a wild card spot and likely get knocked out early in the postseason, the Orioles did the wise thing and are capitalizing on their best trade chips. Trey Mancini was already dealt to the Houston Astros. Lopez, a guy who entered the year 12-31 with a lifetime 6.04 ERA in 350 big league innings, is the latest to go.

In order to get him, the Twins had to give up a few pieces.

Cade Povich appears to be the headlining prospect thus far. The 22nd-ranked player for the Twins, he’s a Single-A arm the Orioles will look to develop. He leaves the Twins as a 22-year-old with an impressive strikeout rate in the minors but only a 4.06 ERA.

Yennier Cano, meanwhile, is a 28-year-old reliever the Orioles can only hope will replicate what Lopez has done for them in 2022.

Minnesota was able to shock the baseball world in the offseason by snagging Carlos Correa in free agency. While the Lopez trade isn’t quite in the same family, it is an important and sweet deal for a team hoping to go deep in October.

The Twins enter the final day of the MLB trade deadline with only a game lead over the Cleveland Guardians who are finding ways to win even without making big moves of their own. Hopeful they can make up for the lackluster bullpen performance from Emilio Pagan in the closer role and pair him with Jhoan Duran, it’s hard to see how they won’t come out on top with this deal.

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