In a “bold, calculated” move that would supercharge their 2026 rotation, the Atlanta Braves are being linked to a “perfect blockbuster offer” for Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López. The rumored deal would solve Atlanta’s biggest need and the Twins’ biggest financial problem, leaving the rest of MLB scrambling.
ATLANTA — “Trade fever” is rising in Atlanta. After an offseason that has already seen the Braves lose key coaches, the front office is reportedly focused on its biggest need: frontline starting pitching.
According to “scorcher” rumors circulating since the GM Meetings, the Braves are being “increasingly linked” to one of the most valuable trade chips on the market: Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López.
An “aggressive” pursuit of López—who is coming off an injury-plagued but dominant 2025 (2.74 ERA in 14 starts)—is the exact “bold, calculated move” Alex Anthopoulos is known for. With López now “fully healthy” for the offseason, the stage is set for a blockbuster.
Why López is the “Perfect” Target
The Braves’ need for an ace is clear. With Spencer Strider returning from his second major elbow surgery, Atlanta needs a high-end, durable starter.
Pablo López is the “perfect” fit. He is not a rental. He is on one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball, owed just $43 million over the next two seasons (2026-2027). Securing a #2 starter at a ~$21.5 million AAV is a “bargain” that would allow the Braves to build a “supercharged” 2026 rotation of López, Strider, and Chris Sale.
The “Fire Sale” and the “Perfect Offer”
The Minnesota Twins are the perfect trade partner. They are in a “near complete rebuild” after a 2025 “fire sale” and are looking to shed payroll. López is their most valuable remaining veteran.
This is where the “perfect blockbuster offer” comes in. The Braves have a “glaring” roster surplus: their catcher logjam.
The rumored deal being discussed would be a “franchise-shaking” move for both sides:
- BRAVES RECEIVE:
- RHP Pablo López
- TWINS RECEIVE:
- C Drake Baldwin (Reigning 2025 NL Rookie of the Year)
- RHP Hurston Waldrep (Braves’ #2 Prospect)
Why This Move Would “Supercharge” the Braves
This “calculated” move solves multiple problems for Atlanta and would “leave the rest of MLB scrambling”:
- It Sells High: The Braves would trade Baldwin at his absolute peak value (a Rookie of the Year) to fill their most desperate need (the ace).
- It Solves the Catcher Logjam: It clears the path for Sean Murphy—who is recovering from hip surgery and still on a long-term deal—to be the undisputed #1 catcher, ending the “C/DH platoon” speculation.
- It Wins Now: It provides the elite, cost-controlled pitcher Anthopoulos needs to ensure the Braves’ championship window remains wide open for 2026.
For the Twins, they get a “king’s ransom”: a 24-year-old, cost-controlled, Rookie of the Year catcher to build their franchise around, plus a top-100 pitching prospect—all while clearing $43 million in payroll. It’s a “win-win” so logical that “trade fever” is quickly becoming “trade expectation.”
