MLB Trade Rumors: Twins' Pablo Lopez Lands in Baltimore with Orioles in Proposed Deal

The Baltimore Orioles have built a tremendous young lineup filled with recent top prospects who are exploding into star everyday players. The list is endless: Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg.

But on the pitching side? Not so much.

How about a swap of yet another young phenom on the offensive side, in return for a horse in the rotation who can deliver consistent premium results?

Tyler Ward of Bleacher Report proposes the following trade that could get this done for the O's:

To Baltimore Orioles:

Pablo Lopez, SP

To Minnesota Twins:

Heston Kjerstad, 1B/OF

The Orioles still haven't replaced ace Corbin Burnes at the top of their rotation after losing him in free agency, and they're also without youngster Grayson Rodriguez for another month, after he finally broke through as a star piece of the staff last year.

Lopez would give them some firepower at the top of the starting rotation. The 29-year-old has been a rock-solid starter for the past three seasons with the Twins, and before that, the Miami Marlins, striking out 234 batters in an All-Star 2023 season, and racking up another 198 last year, while generally maintaining an ERA in the mid-3s to 4.00.

As for Kjerstad, a recent No. 2 overall pick in the MLB Draft, he's a bright young piece to give up, but the Orioles are absolutely loaded with young position player prospects that they've added to the everyday lineup over the past few years.

The Twins, on the other hand, could really use another blue-chip prospect in their lineup, as their star offensive players simply haven't been able to stay on the field (Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis). "Kjerstad needs a greater opportunity" to reach his potential than the Orioles can give him right now, notes Kepner, and he would be someone "to build with for the future" for Minnesota.