“Potential trade partners believe the Twins will deal one of their co-aces, not both,” wrote Jeff Passan at ESPN. Elsewhere, at the New York Post, Joel Sherman suggested that Minnesota is “more likely” to trade López than Joe Ryan.
Yes, they’re just rumors and relays—albeit from well-respected industry veterans. But fans need only use their eyes and ears to recognize that a López trade is very much on the table. His $21-million salary casts a glare for this rebuilding team facing payroll uncertainty, and Twins officials have shied away from ruling out the idea.
I’m on the record with my belief that a López trade would be equivalent to a white flag for the 2026 season—not only because of losing him, but the rippling implications. That’s not a fact, though; it’s an opinion. At this point, it’s still plausible the Twins will be trying to win next year, and it wouldn’t be impossible for a deftly executed deal involving López to support that goal. It’ll just be a tricky needle to thread.
There aren’t a ton of examples of an established frontline starting pitcher being traded for an established top-of-the-order bat, which is (presumably) what the Twins would be seeking to accomplish in such an endeavor. Incidentally, one of the few in recent memory was the Pablo López trade.
In January 2023, the Twins dealt from an area of perceived strength when they sent reigning batting champ Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins in exchange for López. On Opening Day a couple of months later, López was Minnesota’s starting pitcher and Arraez was batting leadoff for Miami.
The Marlins, at the time, were in a somewhat similar situation to the Twins now, needing a boost coming off a 93-loss season and viewing the top of their rotation as a strength, with López accompanied by Sandy Alcantara and Jesús Luzardo.
Miami hoped the addition of Arraez could jumpstart an offense that tied for last in the NL in OPS+ in 2022. He certainly ended up doing his part. In 2023, Arraez batted .354 with a 128 OPS+, while earning All-Star and Silver Slugger honors. The Marlins improved by 15 wins and made the playoffs as a Wild Card.
It’s pretty much the same model the Twins would be looking to enact, just from the other end. A hitter who can deliver the level of impact that Arraez did in his first season with Miami is exactly what the Twins need to take a step forward in 2026, and theoretically, Minnesota’s pitching depth and added spending flexibility could help soften the blow of losing López.
A pertinent question: How does López’s trade value now compare to back when the Twins acquired him at such a lofty price? On the one hand, he’s three years older and much more expensive. On the other hand, he’s under 30, more proven (including in the playoffs), and still under team control for two more years at surplus value. A team acquiring López could do exactly what the Twins did: immediately lock him into a long-term contract, shoring up the top of their rotation for years to come.
That has a lot of appeal. Plenty of contending teams would love to get their hands on López. The problem is that it’s hard to find contending teams with high-impact bats with which they are willing to part, which is why these trades more often take shape as star-for-prospect swaps. The Arraez situation was unique in that the Twins had Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff on hand, with Edouard Julien in the wings. Minnesota’s front office also seemed to harbor some doubt about Arraez’s outlook—which has been largely validated.
Like I said, it’s a difficult needle to thread, but it’s not impossible. The Twins have shown there’s a path to win/win trades of this nature that ultimately make both clubs better. Can they find a match this time? The Boston Red Sox stand out as a potential partner, with rumors swirling around the availability of Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu. I’m curious if any other fits come to mind.
Sound off in the comments, and let us know what it would take for you to get on board with a Pablo López trade this offseason.
