Twins reportedly reach $73.5M deal to extend red-hot pitcher Pablo López

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have reportedly reached a deal on an extension with right-hander Pablo López, a key part of their much-improved pitching staff.

The expected four-year, $73.5 million dollar extension was first reported by SportsGrid's Craig Mish and confirmed by multiple other media outlets.

As of Monday morning, López leads MLB with 33 strikeouts. He's 1-1 in four starts with a 1.73 ERA.

López came to the Twins via trade this offseason. The Twins sent last year's batting champion, Luis Arráez, to the Miami Marlins for the 27-year-old pitcher and two minor leaguers.

López is making $5.45 million this season, his second year of arbitration eligibility. The new deal will give the Twins some additional long-term stability around a rotation that has emerged in 2023 as a clear strength of the team. The Twins entered their day off Monday with a 2.58 starting pitcher ERA that was the best in the major leagues.

Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle are all in the final year of their contracts, eligible to become free agents in the fall. Their uncertain status for next season only underscored the team's interest in committing to López, who posted a 3.94 ERA over 94 starts with the Marlins.

Joe Ryan is the only other starter under club control beyond 2023. There's viable depth in Triple-A, including Bailey Ober, who has a 3.81 ERA in 31 major league starts, and Chris Paddack is due back from Tommy John elbow surgery around midseason this year. But the 27-year-old López, a native of Venezuela, has given the Twins an ace-caliber leader to build around. He took the mound for a career-high 32 starts last season.

The Twins are on top of their division at 10-6 thanks in large part to López, Sonny Gray and the rest of a surprisingly strong pitching rotation.

In:
• Minnesota Twins