Home MLB Would the Twins Trade Pablo López? Examining a Potential Blockbuster with the Boston Red Sox

Would the Twins Trade Pablo López? Examining a Potential Blockbuster with the Boston Red Sox

MLB · November 15, 2024 · Comments off

The Twins need to shake up the core of the roster this winter. Would the club trade their ace for one of baseball’s best prospects, in a blockbuster deal?

In an intriguing hypothetical blockbuster, the Minnesota Twins could send Pablo López, Jorge Alcala, and prospect Dameury Peña to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for top shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer and left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino. The deal offers both risk and reward for both clubs. From each team’s perspective, let’s dive into the pros and cons of such a move.

Why the Twins Would Consider This Deal
The Twins have seen incredible value in López since acquiring him from Miami, as he evolved into an ace-caliber starter. López’s electric stuff and steady presence atop Minnesota’s rotation give the team a dependable frontline starter. However, with López’s increasing salary and the team’s payroll limitations, the front office might be tempted to sell high if they can acquire cornerstone talent.

Pro: Marcelo Mayer’s Upside
Marcelo Mayer is Minnesota’s main attraction in this deal. The 21-year-old is one of baseball’s premier shortstop prospects, offering high offensive potential and defensive chops. MLB Pipeline currently ranks him as baseball’s seventh overall prospect. Last season, he hit .307/.370/.480 with 28 doubles and eight homers in 77 games at Double-A. The Twins’ infield depth has been a strength, but with Carlos Correa locked in at shortstop, Mayer would have time to develop and eventually transition into an impact player. For Minnesota, acquiring Mayer would mean securing their long-term infield future and adding depth for when Correa might need to move to another defensive home.

Pro: Filling the Need for a Left-Handed Reliever
Brennan Bernardino, a durable left-handed reliever, fills an area of need for the Twins with Caleb Thielbar slated to be a free agent. While they have talent in their bullpen, they lack consistency from the left side, making Bernardino a valuable addition. Last season, he held lefties to a .291 OBP and struck out 33 batters in 118 PA. Bernardino has not reached arbitration, putting him under team control through 2029. He could slot into middle relief immediately and be a long-term fixture for a team that wants to avoid bullpen struggles late in the year.

Con: Risk in Moving Pablo López
Moving López would leave a sizable hole in Minnesota’s rotation. While the team has depth, none of the current starters can replicate López’s dominance and durability, especially against high-caliber teams. Letting go of López means the Twins would be banking on young arms like Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober to lead the staff, and they’d need breakout seasons from prospects like David Festa and Zebby Matthews. Losing López could add pressure to the front office to find rotation help in free agency or through another trade.

Con: Bullpen Depth Takes a Hit
Alongside López, the Twins would also lose Jorge Alcalá, a promising, high-upside bullpen arm. Though Alcalá has faced injury setbacks, he showed flashes of being a reliable late-inning reliever. Trading him in this deal, along with López, weakens the rotation and bullpen, making it challenging for the Twins to contend if they don’t find immediate replacements. However, he is only under team control for one more year, so it might be the right time to cash in his remaining value.

Why the Red Sox Would Consider This Deal
This deal could represent a win-now move for the Red Sox that dramatically boosts their starting rotation and bullpen.

Pro: Adding an Ace to the Rotation
Boston struggled to find reliable rotation pieces last season, and Pablo López would be a game-changer. With López’s experience and pitch arsenal, he could quickly establish himself as the Red Sox’s ace. Boston is looking to compete in the highly competitive AL East, and adding López to their rotation provides a significant upgrade that could help them contend for the postseason in the near term.

Pro: Bolstering the Bullpen
Alcalá’s addition would help round out Boston’s bullpen. Alcalá could thrive in a late-inning role with his power arm if he remains healthy. His fastball-slider combination has always been compelling. The Twins have used Alcalá in puzzling ways in recent seasons, and it might be in his best interest to go to a new organization. Boston’s relief corps has had its ups and downs, and Alcalá’s upside makes him an appealing addition, especially if the Red Sox believe they can keep him healthy.

Con: Losing a Future Star in Mayer
Parting with Mayer is a significant gamble for Boston. Mayer has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone, with many expecting him to quickly impact the big-league roster. Trading him would mean Boston prioritizes immediate success over their long-term future at shortstop, potentially leaving a gap if their infield depth doesn’t materialize as expected. They would have to believe that current options or future shortstop prospects can fill the void Mayer leaves.

Con: A Big Bet on the Current Roster
The Red Sox are a team in transition, and giving up a top prospect like Mayer would signal a strong commitment to contending in the immediate term. If they fall short of a playoff berth, this trade could look like a misstep in hindsight, as they would be sacrificing Mayer’s long-term value for the here and now. Expectations are always high for the Red Sox, and their fan base will hardly forget this trade if Mayer turns into a star.

For the Twins, moving López and Alcalá is no small decision, and it would require a serious belief in Mayer’s upside and Bernardino’s ability to make an impact. Minnesota would be banking on the long-term benefits of securing a premier shortstop talent in Mayer while bolstering their left-handed relief options.

Boston, meanwhile, would acquire the impact arm they desperately need at the top of their rotation. However, sacrificing Mayer’s immense potential is a steep price and would represent a win-now mindset. They’d have to contend seriously for this trade to make sense, with Alcalá’s health and López’s performance playing crucial roles in their success.

Would Minnesota be willing to part with one of its top starting pitchers? Would Boston really let go of Mayer, one of baseball’s best prospects? These questions make this deal intriguing, but it’s a fascinating potential trade to explore that would send shockwaves across both fan bases.

MsNga

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