SF Giants acquire versatile prospect in minor trade with Blue Jays
The SF Giants acquired one of the most versatile prospects in the game on Tuesday, trading cash considerations to the Toronto Blue Jays for Otto Lopez. Lopez had been designated for assignment by Toronto earlier this week and was subject to be claimed off waivers. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Lopez, the Giants designated outfielder TJ Hopkins for assignment. Hopkins had been acquired in a similar trade back in December.
Blue Jays shortstop Otto Lopez celebrates in the dugout with his teammates. (2023)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Lopez has very little big-league experience, receiving 11 combined plate appearances during multiple stints in 2021 and 2022. He does have a fun .600/.636/.600 triple-slash with no extra-base hits, a walk, and two strikeouts in that exceedingly small sample. However, Lopez is out of minor-league options this year, and will now have an opportunity to earn a spot on the Giants Opening Day roster as a super utility player for manager Bob Melvin.
Lopez has also starred on the big stage, playing for Canada during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Lopez played in all four of the team's games, hitting .294/.333/.588 with a triple, home run, walk, and strikeout across 17 plate appearances.
The Blue Jays signed Lopez out of the Dominican Republic back in 2016, debuting with the organization's stateside affiliate in 2017. Lopez quickly showcased an above-average hit tool and managed to hit his way to the major leagues by 2021. Despite consistently being younger than most of his competition, Lopez has routinely recorded batting averages north of .300 in the minor leagues.
Lopez also has plus speed, although he has struggled to develop into a consistent base stealer. That said, his speed has helped him become a tremendously versatile defender. Just over the last year, Lopez has appeared in double-digit games at shortstop, second base, center field, and left field. Second base, his first position, is his best defensively, and the only spot where he likely rates as an above-average option, but the fact that he can handle every outfield spot and is a viable shortstop makes it far easier to envision him sticking on the roster.
The one thing Lopez lacks is power. He has never generated extra-base hits, especially home runs, at even a league-average rate. Instead, his offensive value will have to come through consistently reaching base. He has shown both the contact skills and patience to do that.
Lopez is coming off the worst season of his career in 2023. Lopez's season was cut short by a severe oblique strain, and perhaps trying to push through injuries led to his .258/.313/.343 triple-slash at Triple-A. It was easily the worst offensive season of his career, including two previous stops at the highest level of the minors.
Now, Lopez will join other prospects, like Brett Wisely and Tyler Fitzgerald, in a competition to be Marco Luciano's backup shortstop. The Giants have been trying to sure up their shortstop depth all offseason, and Lopez may be the new leading candidate for the job since both Wisely and Fitzgerald have minor-league options remaining.
Hopkins is coming off the most productive minor-league season of his career. In 94 games with the Reds Triple-A affiliate, he hit .308/.411/.514 with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, 55 walks, and 94 strikeouts in 393 plate appearances. That impressive overall performance helped him receive his first-career big-league call up.
However, Hopkins was unable to continue producing at a high level against major league pitching. Hopkins only received 44 plate appearances across 25 games with the Reds, managing just seven hits (all singles) with 17 strikeouts and only two walks. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the SF Giants could keep him in the organization and give him an opportunity to compete for a spot at Triple-A.
