Minnesota Twins Might Have Pablo Lopez on Trade Block Too

The Minnesota Twins lost again on Saturday, making them 3-5 since the All-Star Break — not exactly the second-half start this clubhouse was imagining when they set out to convince team president Derek Falvey and the Twins front office not to be sellers this week, before the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

Now just four days out from July 31, with a 40-44 overall record, the writing is on the wall. The MN Twins are open for business and they have lots of assets for sale to offer prospective trade partners, depending on what they’re looking for.

At the least, Minnesota is expected to trade away expiring contracts they can get decent value for. More on them momentarily. Because the biggest questions surrounding the Twins’ plans at the deadline center around players with more star power and multiple years remaining of team control.

Pablo Lopez now on the trade block too?

For weeks, most of the Twins’ blockbuster trade rumors and reports have been centered around three pitchers — relievers, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, along with All-Star starter Joe Ryan. So far, Falvey is asking a fortune for all three guys, and even though buyers have balked at those prices, he has shown no signs of bringing them down.

But on Sunday, The Athletic’s MLB big time insider, Ken Rosenthal, is reporting that the Twins may be fielding calls on the only starter in their rotation or organization who can hold Joe Ryan’s jockstrap… and that is staff ace Pablo Lopez, who is currently working his way through recovery from a Teres Major strain in his shoulder.

As reported previously, the Twins’ front office is proceeding with perhaps even more caution than it normally might because of the looming sale of the club. Still, that isn’t stopping the Twins from listening on relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax and even ace right-hander Joe Ryan, all of whom are under club control for two additional seasons.

Some teams even wonder whether the Twins would move righty Pablo López, who is still weeks away from returning from a strain of the teres major in the back of his right shoulder.

Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic

Related: One Player the MN Twins are Supposedly Trading

Pablo Lopez, who is expected to return still this season, was all the bit of ace the Minnesota Twins needed him to be, prior to his injury. During his first 11 starts of the 2025 season, the 29-year-old righty starter pitched 60.2 innings with a 2.82 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 1.071 WHIP and 150 OPS+.

What does 11 Pablo Lopez strikeouts look like? pic.twitter.com/dt3sumvjTk

— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 7, 2025

Had he not went down with an injury, who knows where the Twins’ rotation would be. Since he suffered the grade two shoulder strain in early June, Minnesota’s starting staff has gone from one of the best in baseball to one of the worst.

Minnesota Twins could get more serious about trading Lopez in offseason

Now, it’s one thing for a respected media member to report some trade deadline steam. It’s another thing for a physical blockbuster trade to actually go down, especially when the prized piece is coming off of a major injury that he will not be 100% recovered from in 2025.

That’s why Rosenthal goes on to write that, if a Pablo Lopez blockbuster trade were to go down, it would likely happen in the offseason, after he has proven he’s at least on the path back to a full recovery. By then, it’s also possible the Minnesota Twins have more clarity on the future of ownership, too.

López, under contract through 2027 at $21.75 million per season, is more likely to be a topic of conversation in the offseason, assuming the Twins are willing to talk about him. Once he pitches again, teams will be in better position to assess his value.

One way or another, the Twins’ front office is under pressure. The team faces the potential of missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, and at some point soon, new ownership will be taking over.

Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic

MN Twins are a one-stop shop for MLB trade deadline buyers

What Rosenthal’s latest update tells us is that, no matter what you’re looking for… the Minnesota Twins probably have it. Need a top starter, pay up for Joe Ryan. Want an injured one, pay a little less for an injured Pablo Lopez. If it’s heat in the bullpen, up the offer for Jhoan Duran or Griffin Jax.

Of course, we all know about the more available players, who are due to hit free agency at the end of the summer. So if buying teams need to stack up some depth for a postseason run, the Twins have a Harrison Bader or Christian Vazquez for that.

Related: Dodgers Balking at Price of Minnesota Twins Relievers

Want more bang for your buck, Willi Castro is a certified starting-caliber utility guy who can play anywhere on defense and add a jolt to any contending team’s offense. Interested yet?

Wanna bulk up some depth in your bullpen? If you need left-handed help, the Minnesota Twins have Danny Coulombe. Looking for a righty, how about Brock Stewart? Then, there’s Chris Paddack, for those teams wanting to do more of the same, except in the starting rotation.

Whatever you need, it seems clear that you want to call the Twins first.