Orioles

Orioles trade closer Jorge López to Minnesota for 4 pitching prospects

The Orioles have made their second trade ahead of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, dealing All-Star closer Jorge López and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins for four pitching prospects.

López, 29, who retired two batters in last month’s All-Star Game, is 4-6 with a 1.68 ERA and saved 19 games in 23 chances in his first season as a closer.

The Orioles will receive Yennier Canó, a 28-year-old Cuban right-hander, Cade Povich, Juan Nuñez and left-hander Juan Rojas.

On Monday, the Orioles traded longtime first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini to the Houston Astros as part of a three-team deal. The Orioles received right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson from Tampa Bay and right-hander Chayce McDermott from Houston. The Rays will receive centerfielder Jose Siri from Houston and the Astros get pitcher Jayden Murray from Tampa Bay.

Here’s a brief look at the four pitches the Orioles received for Lopez:

Canó was 1-0 with a 9.22 ERA in 10 games for the Twins this season. He was 1-1 with a 1.90 ERA and three saves for Triple-A Saint Paul this season.

Povich, a 22-year-old right-hander, was Minnesota’s third-round draft pick. The left-hander was 6-8 with a 4.46 ERA in 16 games for High-A Cedar Rapids.

Nuñez is a 22-year-old right-hander who was 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA in eight games for the Florida Complex League Twins this season.

Rojas is an 18-year-old left-hander, who was 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in eight games for the Florida Complex League Twins.

To take López’s place on the roster, the Orioles recalled left-hander Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk. Vespi was 3-0 with a 4.41 ERA and a save in 14 games.

 

Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

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