*Photo from Camden Chat*
Finally, the Minnesota Twins got their desired bullpen help. The Twins have acquired RHP Jorge Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP's Yennier Cano and Juan Nunez, and LHP's Cade Povich and Juan Rojas, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Lopez doesn't have a long track record in the bullpen, as he only converted to relief pitching full time this season, but he quickly became the Orioles closer and best reliever, being selected to the AL All Star team this season. He's also been one of the best relievers in all of baseball, with an ERA under 2.00, and he becomes the closer the Twins needed after Emilio Pagan was removed from that role.
Additionally, the 29 year old Lopez was in his first season of arbitration eligibility this season, so he's under team control until the end of the 2024 season, when he is currently scheduled to hit free agency. According to FanGraphs, the Twins bullpen was second worst in the league in wins above replacement(WAR), so Lopez is an instant boost to the bullpen.
With the Orioles this season, his second full season in Baltimore, Lopez has a 4-6 record. To go with that, he has a sterling 1.68 ERA and 0.97 WHIP, striking out 54 hitters while throwing 48 1/3 innings, picking up 19 saves in 44 relief appearances, making the AL All Star team.
The only major league piece coming back to Baltimore is Cano, who made his MLB debut this year for the Twins. Cano currently has a 1-0 record with a 9.22 ERA and 2.04 WHIP, throwing 13 2/3 innings in 10 relief appearances. Cano's 14 earned runs are more than his 13 2/3 total innings pitched.
The headliner of the return is Povich, the 22nd ranked prospect in the Twins system, according to MLB Pipeline. With High A Cedar Rapids this season, Povich has a 6-8 record with a 4.46 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, throwing 78 2/3 innings in 16 starts so far.
Also coming back to the Orioles is Nunez, who is in his second professional season. Pitching for the FCL Twins this season, their rookie ball affiliate, Nunez has a 0-2 record with a 4.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, striking out 47 hitters while throwing 29 2/3 innings in 7 starts and one relief appearance after being promoted from the Twins Dominican Summer League team.
Rojas, the final part of the return, was also promoted to the FCL Twins after spending last year in the DSL. Rojas has a 1-2 record with a 3.60 ERA and 0.90 WHIP, fanning 38 hitters in 30 innings pitched, making 5 starts and 3 relief appearances.
In Minnesota, Lopez joins a bullpen mix that also includes Pagan, Jhoan Duran, and Griffin Jax in the high leverage spots in the game. Cano will likely join the Orioles Triple A roster, while Povich likely goes to High A, with Rojas and Nunez likely staying in rookie ball.
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