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The Chicago Cubs are expected to make a splash in the pitching department before the trade deadline passes at the end of July.
While Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara has been the biggest name connected to the Cubs, there are multiple directions for the organization to go. One of those includes pursuing $73.5 million ace Pablo López from the Minnesota Twins.
In an article for USA Today, baseball insider Bob Nightengale listed López as a player who is drawing attention from a lot of teams.
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“Several contenders are keeping a close eye on Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López,” wrote Nightengale. “Lopez, who returned a week ago from a hamstring injury, is in the second year of a four-year, $73.5 million contract that the Twins could unload this summer if their free-fall continues. The Twins entered Saturday with more losses than any team in the American League except the Chicago White Sox, and already are eight games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers.”
Ahead of Monday’s games, the Twins have the fourth-worst record in the American League. It doesn’t appear they will snap out of their skid any time soon, making López more expendable with each day that passes.
The Cubs are in desperate need of pitching help after losing Justin Steele for the entire season, and Shota Imanaga was just placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained hamstring. This leaves the organization thin in the pitching department with Colin Rea picking up some of the rotation duties.
As Nightengale mentioned, López is only in the second year of his deal, meaning he would have 2 1/2 seasons of control left if he were traded at the deadline.
The Twins would likely demand a king’s ransom for their ace, who has posted a 2.25 ERA in his first five starts of the season with 26 strikeouts and just four walks. However, it’s a move the Cubs should be willing to make if they want to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League pennant.
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