With the deadline passed, can they even trade anymore? Wasn't the rule changed? I was under the impression they could only sign released players. Correct me if I'm wrong.

You're right, the rule was changed. All players DFA'd must be placed on outright or relaese waivers. These players can be claimed with the claiming team picking up the contract. The player can be assigned to AAA if they pass through waivers, but any player with more than 5 years of MLB service time can reject that assignment, become a free agent, and sign with any team. That player forfeits their existing contract and is paid whatever the new team negotiates.  Those two players above both have more than 5 years of service time so they could be signed as free agents or picked up on waivers.  I'll revise the post. Good catch, thanks. 

No Trevor Bauer either 🤣

I thought players could only be traded or claimed if they haven't been on a MLB roster or MLB IL all year? Twins can still make waiver claims for major league players? That's news to me, but I don't see us grabbing anyone else. I think we're hoping for returns of Stewart and Topa. I hope they move Varland to the bullpen. I think he's cooked as a starter but could possibly be a real relief weapon for us like he was late last year.

The Twins can make waiver claims if they take on the salary of the player. They can also sign free agents. Any player DFA'd with 5 years or more in the majors can elect free agency, get their contract paid by the waiving club, and sign with another club. The signing club is only on the hook for the prorated remainder of the 740k minimum salary. 

Opportunities tend to rise into circumstances. One is where the player has a relatively high salary, his team waives him hoping someone will pick up the contract for salary relief and, if no one makes a claim, the player is either released or elect free agency. Classic example is Rafael Montero being released by the Astros. The second is where a team either winds up with too many pitchers for their 40 man or 26 man roster's after making trades or takes on the contract of someone they can't fit on the roster to facilitate a trade with a team that wants to unload that pitcher's salary, and then has to waive that player who becomes available. Two examples here are Vinnie Nattoli just elected free agency after being DFA'd by the Orioles, and Ryan Yarborough, who the Dodgers just got in a trade and then DFA'd, who will also probably elect free agency.

Both Vinnie Nattoli and Ryan Yarborough are pitchers the Twins should take a look at. Both will be very cheap at the prorated amount of the league minimum and both could help.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/yankees-release-chasen-shreve.html

Not even a DFA because he wasn't on the major-league roster. The fact that the Yankees didn't see fit even to keep him around in the minors is...telling.

But as the article notes, "he made 50 MLB appearances between Detroit and Cincinnati a year ago, turning in a 4.63 earned run average with slightly better than average strikeout and walk rates over 44 2/3 frames." Worth another minor-league deal to see if he looks better than Okert or Thielbar?

I like giving DieKman A shot.  Irwin can start in AAA with Festa showing much better after his bulk innings and bulk runs given up in his first two starts.  But we may need another starts yet with Woods-Richardson reaching a new high in innings could be tiring down the stretch.  
 

I see nothing wrong with more depth.  You can never have too much depth.  
 

on a side note Gordon was also let go by Florida.  Could we get him back in AAA for utility depth?  

On 8/1/2024 at 10:44 AM, LambchoP said:

I hope they move Varland to the bullpen. I think he's cooked as a starter

I think he's figured things out since June 23rd in St. Paul - 30+ innings, 5 ER, 21 hits, 35 K's. I think we'll get to see how he's doing firsthand against Cleveland on Friday. I see him in the bullpen as well this year, but not until September when they are confident we don't need him as a starter.