Twins Trade Alcala, Add Wentz from Pirates

The Minnesota Twins traded longtime reliever Jorge Alcala to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 21-year-old utility prospect Andy Lugo after Alcala's ongoing struggles and declining performance, including an 8.88 ERA this season. Lugo, not ranked among Boston's top prospects, has shown some promise in High-A ball. In a separate transaction, the Twins claimed left-handed reliever Joey Wentz off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he posted a 4.15 ERA. Wentz is expected to fill a lower-leverage, multi-inning bullpen role for Minnesota, addressing the team's need for a lefty who can eat innings. The Twins also transferred Pablo Lopez to the 60-day injured list to clear a roster spot. These moves reflect Minnesota's strategy to refresh their bullpen with new talent.