Twins & Orioles Swing Trade For All-Star Closer

The Minnesota Twins have been looking to give their pitching staff a boost, and they've done more than that, landing one of the best closers in baseball this season in Jorge Lopez.

Lopez, an All-Star with Orioles, has a 1.68 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 54K and 19 saves. Now a Twin. https://t.co/XDlSrRvGk3

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 2, 2022

Lopez has had a tremendous year with the Baltimore Orioles, notching 19 saves, along with a 1.68 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 54:17 K:BB ratio in 48 innings. 

In addition, the 29-year-old All-Star is under team control for two more years after this season, through 2024.  

Full deal, per sources:

Minnesota gets: closer Jorge Lopez

Baltimore gets: LHP Cade Povich, RHP Yennier Cano, RHP Juan Nuñez and LHP Juan Rojas@JonHeyman was first with Lopez going to Minnesota

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2022

According to Jeff Passan, the O's get a nice haul of prospects in return: LHP Cade Povich, RHP Yennier Cano, RHP Juan Nuñez and LHP Juan Rojas. 

Emilio Pagan has flopped as the Twins' closer already this season; now, pairing Lopez with young flame-thrower Jhoan Duran gives them a lethal end-of-game duo. 

Photo: James A. Pittman-USA TODAY Sports