Otto von Ballpark

Garlick has been placed on the IL, and Celestino activated.

In case anyone is wondering, this is where we stand today per FanGraphs: For another perspective, here are today's odds from Baseball-Reference: Current Remaining Average 90% Confidence Change Tm Lg D SRS rSOS W L W L W L Best Worst Post WC Div LDS LCS Pennant Win WS 1 Day 7 Days 30 Days AL Central 1 Minnesota Twins AL C 0.0 0.0 55 49 28.9 29.1 83.9 78.1 90-72 78-84 49.0% 11.5% 37.5% 21.1% 6.0% 1.9% 0.6% -1.4% -11.8% -26.7% 2 Cleveland Guardians AL C -0.1 -0.1 54 50 29.2 28.8 83.2 78.8 89-73 77-85 44.2% 12.2% 32.0% 20.6% 7.5% 2.4% 0.5% +1.1% +3.0% +6.0% 3 Chicago White Sox AL C -0.2 -0.3 53 51 29.7 28.3 82.7 79.3 89-73 76-86 40.4% 9.9% 30.5% 19.8% 6.0% 1.5% 0.6% +0.8% +8.8% +11.3%

According to this FanGraphs article, the Twins improved their chances of making the postseason more than any other team at the trade deadline (+7.4%): Which Teams Improved the Most at the Trade Deadline? Of course, that's due to a few factors: the Twins additions the lack of additions for Cleveland and Chicago (who saw the second and third largest playoff odds declines, respectively) starting with a pessimistic projection for the Twins, so we had more room to improve it (Fangraphs still has the Twins projected to narrowly finish 2nd -- no respect! ) The article also includes odds of winning the World Series, and the Twins didn't move that needle much -- just +0.2%. The Padres were the only big gainer there (+3.5%), as you might imagine. What do you think? Do you expect a photo finish in the division? Do you think we'll go in as a wild card instead?

Megill also has options remaining — 2021 was his first option year.

Yes. Traded players have up to 72 hours to report to their new team, but as soon as they report, you need to add them to the 26-man roster. Mahle was planning to throw a bullpen session for us today, in advance of his Friday start:

Moran is being optioned to activate Mahle.

Moran is being optioned tonight to activate Mahle.

I was thinking this too, but to be fair, it doesn't look like Chicago or Cleveland had quite the gaps that the Twins had on the pitching staff. Even their lineups are filling out a bit with guys returning from injury and from minor league call-ups. Both have a couple black holes (Grandal & Moncada, Straw & Hedges) but they seem stuck/committed to them, contractually or otherwise.

Michael Fulmer!

Apparently two teams (not Dodgers) are still talking to the Marlins about Lopez:

Yeah, Ian Hamilton was going to be a minor league free agent in 2 months anyway. Interesting how we've kept him shielded from other teams for so long. Claimed and outrighted in Feb. 2021 -- first time outrighted, and Hamilton didn't have enough service time to elect free agency. Never got called up in 2021, and as a 2016 draftee, wasn't quite eligible for minor league free agency yet after the 2021 season, so he had to stay in our system. Finally got called up to the Twins in 2022 -- but as a COVID replacement, we were able to remove him from the roster and send him back to the minors 3 days later without exposing him to waivers.

Not only are the White Sox and Guardians mostly sitting out this trade deadline, one of them is sending us (admittedly minor) reinforcements.

Cotton just threw 27 pitches last night; Smith only 3. They'll need a spot for Thielbar very soon too.

I say it with regret because I appreciate his mustache skills!

Contreras would be an obvious cut for Cave.

Do they list a corresponding move yet? Will need a spot on the 26-man and 40-man. edit: looks like Cotton is gone, among possible other moves

Who are the SP with a year and 2 months of control traded for less at the deadline?

If you're not willing to make this deal, then you're never going to acquire a pitcher like this.

Yes, through next season (2023).

BaseballTradeValues.com:

Hey (man) -- at least Heyman had them in the correct order!