The Baltimore Orioles‘ decision to trade Jorge Lopez at the deadline was not a popular one in the clubhouse. However, it may have been the right move after all.
Lopez had been a popular figure on every team he had played for, someone beloved in the clubhouse. That continued to be the case in Baltimore as his teammates bemoaned losing his presence in the locker room. However, Lopez did not have much success before joining the Orioles, making it reasonable that they would look to sell high despite being in an unexpected playoff chase.
Jorge Lopez returning to previous form since leaving Baltimore Orioles
It is understandable why trading Lopez would have been ill-received. He had posted a stellar 1.68 ERA and a 0.972 WHiP in his 48.1 innings, striking out 54 batters with 17 walks. He notched 19 saves in Baltimore, earning his first All Star Game nod as he suddenly appeared to have found his place in the majors.
That has come to a crashing halt in Minnesota. Instead of solidifying the bullpen for a pennant run, Lopez has become the pitcher he had been throughout his career. Following his implosion on Monday, he now has a 5.60 ERA and a 1.981 WHiP in his 17.2 innings with the Twins, striking out 14 while issuing 13 walks.
The Orioles were clear that their success prior to the trade deadline would not change their plans. That was indeed the case as both Lopez and Trey Mancini were shipped out much to the chagrin of the other players and fans. While Mancini was a surprise given what he meant to the franchise, Lopez was brought in as a possible trade option if they could catch lightning in a bottle. And with Felix Bautista waiting in the wings, such a trade made sense on paper.
It turns out that the trade was the right move after all. Lopez has regressed drastically, his struggles one of the reasons that the Twins have slipped to third in the AL Central and are now trailing the Orioles in the Wild Card hunt. Sometimes, the least popular moves are the right ones to make.
Trading Jorge Lopez was not a popular move in the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse. As it turns out, it was the right move to make after all.