Starting pitching will continue to be in high demand as the MLB trade deadline approaches, with several notable starters expected to be available, including Sandy Alcantara, Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, and Andrew Heaney. However, one MLB insider believes that the Chicago Cubs should focus on acquiring a former All-Star pitcher.
The team is dealing with injuries to their rotations while staying at the top of it’s respective divisions. The Dodgers have Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out with shoulder inflammation, and there is no clear timetable for their return.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have been hit hard, with Justin Steele out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery and Shota Imanaga on the 15-day IL with a strained left hamstring, sidelining him for several weeks.
In light of these issues, FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray suggests that both the Dodgers and Cubs should target Minnesota Twins ace Pablo Lopez. The 2023 All-Star has posted an impressive 2.18 ERA, 190 ERA+, 2.08 FIP, 0.939 WHIP, and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in six starts this season.
Lopez, 29, is one of the top pitchers in baseball, with a career 3.86 ERA over eight seasons. He has started 32 games in each of the past three seasons, showcasing his durability. Lopez is under contract through 2027, owed \$65.25 million during that period. With the Twins currently in fourth place in the AL Central with a 16-20 record, they may consider moving Lopez for a substantial return of prospects and MLB-ready talent if their performance does not improve by the trade deadline.