Mets Eye Pablo Lopez as Key Rotation Upgrade

The New York Mets are positioning themselves to make a major offseason splash by targeting Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez, a pitcher widely regarded as one of baseball’s most reliable aces. Despite missing over half of the 2025 season due to a forearm strain, Lopez remains a coveted asset for teams looking to anchor their rotations.

Lopez’s performance before the injury reinforced his status as a frontline starter. In just 14 starts covering 75.2 innings, he posted a 2.74 ERA, demonstrating the elite stuff that has made him a consistent contributor throughout his career. Over the previous three seasons, Lopez averaged 32 starts and over 180 innings per year, highlighting both his durability and his ability to handle a heavy workload.

The Twins hold Lopez under a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension signed in April 2023, giving them control through the 2027 season. This provides a unique trade opportunity, as his prime years coincide with the contract’s remaining term, offering contending teams cost-controlled excellence. For the Mets, acquiring Lopez addresses their most pressing weakness: starting pitching depth, which faltered significantly in 2025.

With one of the strongest farm systems in baseball, the Mets have the prospect capital necessary to make a deal feasible. Combining talent with a willingness to trade multiple controllable arms could land them a proven, mid-rotation or frontline starter without dismantling their position player core.

1. Why Lopez Makes Sense for the Mets

Acquiring Lopez offers the Mets immediate stability at the top of their rotation. Unlike some veteran free agents who come at a premium or trade targets that require giving up too much major league-ready talent, Lopez’s contract of $21.5 million annually through 2027 represents strong value. The Mets’ front office can construct an offer that leverages their young pitching prospects while retaining key position players. Lopez’s durability and proven track record suggest the injury-shortened 2025 campaign was an anomaly, and at 29 years old, he still has multiple peak seasons ahead. For manager Buck Showalter and the pitching staff, Lopez’s presence would provide a reliable innings-eater capable of anchoring the rotation, mentoring younger pitchers, and increasing the team’s competitiveness in the tight NL East. His addition could also reduce pressure on players like Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom to carry the team’s pitching load, assuming healthy seasons for all. The Mets’ farm depth allows them to offer high-quality, controllable pitching prospects rather than established major leaguers, which protects their long-term competitive window while still aiming for immediate contention.

2. What Minnesota Gains

A potential trade centered around Lopez could look like this: Mets Receive:

RHP Pablo Lopez

Twins Receive:

RHP Nolan McLean

RHP Jonah Tong

RHP Brandon Sproat

OF AJ Ewing

For the Twins, the trade aligns perfectly with a rebuild strategy. McLean and Tong retain rookie eligibility through 2026, offering multiple years of cost-controlled control. Brandon Sproat represents high-upside talent, a key priority for teams looking to accelerate their rebuild, while AJ Ewing adds depth to the outfield following a 2025 season where Minnesota’s offense struggled. This package provides Minnesota with young, controllable talent that could develop into rotation staples or tradeable assets in the coming years. It balances immediate needs for the Mets with long-term growth for the Twins, allowing both teams to pursue their respective goals efficiently.

3. Strategic Fit for Both Teams

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For the Mets, Lopez solves a clear problem without mortgaging future cornerstone position players like Jett Williams or Carson Benge. He provides a stable, cost-controlled presence at the top of the rotation, enhancing their chances to compete for the NL East title in 2026 and beyond. For the Twins, the trade accelerates a rebuild by turning a valuable but expensive veteran into multiple high-upside, controllable players. It allows Minnesota to maintain financial flexibility while cultivating a core of young talent that could emerge as long-term contributors. Both franchises stand to benefit: the Mets acquire a proven ace who fills a glaring need, while the Twins gain several promising arms and an outfielder to aid in their ongoing rebuild. The move represents a rare scenario where a trade can create a clear win-win for both contenders and rebuilding clubs. Summary Sentence: A trade for Pablo Lopez would give the Mets a frontline starter to anchor their rotation while providing the Twins with elite young talent to accelerate their rebuild.