Sports Illustrated mock trade has Rockies landing All-Star pitcher from Twins

The Colorado Rockies are looking up after opening spring training with a 6-2 record, capped off by another Zac Veen walk-off home run against the Padres on Friday afternoon.

Yes, we know it's just spring training, but the offensive production so far has been impressive from top to bottom.

The Rockies, however, could make a splash by swinging a fun trade with the Minnesota Twins.

(Disclaimer: This is just a mock trade. For a more in-depth article on this trade, follow the link to Sports Illustrated.)

Lopez, 29, is currently sidelined for the entire 2026 season after undergoing successful surgery to repair a significant tear in his right elbow's ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The injury occurred during a bullpen session in late February as he was ramping up to represent Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

That trade idea would give the Rockies a front-of-the-rotation starter for 2027 as the team tries to bounce back from a dismal 2025 season.

Colorado's current projected rotation features Kyle Freeland and Chase Dollander, alongside veterans on one-year deals like Jose Quintana, Michael Lorenzen, and Tomoyuki Sugano. A trade like this could bring much-needed stability to a rotation that desperately needs a boost.

The proposed trade would send Rockies prospects Gabriel Hughes (No. 14, SP), Sterlin Thompson (No. 15, OF), and Angel Jimenez (SP) to Minnesota in exchange for Twins starter Pablo Lopez.

Hughes, the 10th overall pick by Colorado in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Gonzaga, showed promise in his first full pro season before it came to an abrupt end. He required Tommy John surgery, cutting his season short.

He rehabbed throughout the entire 2024 season before joining Colorado's Arizona Fall League roster to get back on the mound.

Thompson has been a well-regarded prospect moving through Colorado's system with a near-MLB-ready bat. He slashed .296/.392/.519 last season in Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting 18 home runs over 120 games.

Jimenez would be a wild card addition to the deal with intriguing upside. He made 17 starts in the minors last season, posting a 4.01 ERA across 60.2 innings while racking up 73 strikeouts. However, control issues have been a persistent concern.

A trade like this seems farfetched for the Rockies, and while it's a fun idea in theory, it could significantly accelerate their timeline for contention—especially if the 2026 season goes as planned and Pablo returns close to 100%.