The Philadelphia Phillies have yet to make the big move yet this winter. Might that be coming soon?
It was known earlier this fall that the Phillies were sniffing around Garrett Crochet, the ex-Chicago White Sox pitcher recently traded to the Boston Red Sox. Perhaps another American League Central pitcher will be more their speed.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Minnesota Twins, amid an ownership change and the continued loss of television revenue, have fielded trade calls for former All-Star starting pitcher Pablo López, their 2024 Opening Day starter.
“The Twins have listened on right-hander Pablo Lopez, and if free agent pitching prices remain stratospheric, perhaps they’ll go beyond the listening stage,” Passan said.
López, 28, racked up 198 strikeouts, 12th-most in MLB, while pitching to a 4.08 ERA in 185 1/3 innings in 2024. The previous season, he finished third in strikeouts with a 3.66 ERA and helped lead the Twins to their first playoff series loss.
López is a better and more cost-effective option for the Phillies than just about anyone they can get on the free-agent market, with three years and $65 million remaining on his deal. He’s a number-one starter when he’s at his peak, and he’s also a workhorse at all times.
So now that it’s been established that the Phillies should try to trade for López, what could they give the Twins in order to get a deal done? Here’s one potential package:
Phillies acquire: SP Pablo López
Twins acquire: OF Justin Crawford (Phillies No. 3 prospect), IF Devin Saltiban (No. 9), RHP Griff McGarry (No. 21)
Crawford is the obvious headliner here, the son of ex-MLB star Carl Crawford with excellent speed who’s approaching big-league readiness. But Saltiban has a high floor and some versatility, and McGarry has the raw stuff to be a great reliever if he can hone his control just a bit.
López could be the final piece that makes the Phillies’ rotation the most dominant in the entire sport. And come October, they’ll want him on their side as they try to chase down that elusive championship in the Bryce Harper era.
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