The Minnesota Twins have acquired right-handed relief pitcher Jorge López from the Baltimore Orioles, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. In return, the Twins will be sending left-handed pitcher Cade Povich, right-handed pitcher Yennier Cano, right-handed pitcher Juan Nuñez and left-handed pitcher Juan Rojas back to the Orioles.
Cano has already appeared in the majors for the Twins this season, pitching to a 9.22 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. Povich is the only prospect going to Baltimore that was ranked in the top 30 of the Twins system according to MLB Pipeline, currently sitting 22nd in the system.
López has performed tremendously for the Orioles in his first full season as a closer. The 29-year-old pitcher had been a starter for three different organizations prior to this year, but has transitioned smoothly into the backend of the bullpen. In 48 1/3 innings of work, he has a 1.68 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 19 saves. López was selected to the All-Star team for the first time in his career last month.
The former second-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers uses his sinker most often, but his most effective pitch has been the curveball. López is throwing that pitch 20.5 percent of the time in 2022, and hitters only have a batting average of .071 against it. The closer also has a changeup and slider that he will mix in every so often.
The Twins currently lead in the AL Central with a record of 54-48, one game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians. The Twins are in a position to buy, and this move for López certainly signals that. For the Orioles, this is the second major piece of their 2022 roster to be traded away, as first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini was acquired by the Houston Astors on Monday.
