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FORT MYERS - Tyler Mahle is back, Edouard Julien goes yard (twice), but some injuries affect the lineup. The Twins triumphed over the Atlanta Braves, 10-7, in Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Tuesday afternoon. It was Tyler Mahle's first game since shoulder fatigue shut down his 2022 season, but his stuff looked great, with velocity exceeding last year's average fastball velocity. The Twins jumped on an early lead thanks to two infielders - Edouard Julien and Willi Castro - who are likely slated for St. Paul. But the postgame talk with manager Rocco Baldelli revealed some injuries that were reflected in the game's lineup. John Bonnes has the details from the game. twins-braves-landscape.mp4 View full article

One less catcher available.. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/braves-acquire-sean-murphy.html View full rumor

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/athletics-moving-closer-to-sean-murphy-trade-braves-considered-the-frontrunners.html View full rumor

The Braves find themselves in a precarious position after losing one of the game’s young superstars, Ronald Acuna, to a season-ending injury right before the All-Star break. They may end up tempted to move some of their pending free agents as the month comes to a close. But with only a handful of games separating them from the East-leading Mets, they are currently one of the few teams in baseball already aggressively buying. What’s Their Situation? Atlanta is the three-time defending division champs and came one game short of the World Series last year. They currently find themselves behind the Mets and neck-and-neck with the Phillies. Their odds to win the division, though, trail only New York, according to Vegas Insider. What Do They Need? Down all three outfield starters from Opening Day, the Braves would need to start there. Acuna is out for the season (at least), Marcell Ozuna’s status in society needs to be resolved before a Major League team even considers playing him again and Christian Pache, recovered from injury, is back in the minor leagues after struggling. The Braves started out their second half by acquiring Joc Pederson from the Cubs. Pederson fills a spot for this season, but has a hefty mutual option for next year that will likely lead to the Braves choosing to let Pederson head to free agency Looking ahead, you can’t confidently place a single player in their 2022 Opening Day outfield. The pitching staff is in pretty good shape. While it’s possible they add some reinforcements, the priority for the Braves - if they choose to add - is the outfield. Which Twins Are the Best Fit? Max Kepler, under contract for around $20 million and three more seasons after this one, is the most obvious fit. He’s both versatile and affordable and could be viewed as expendable with the emergence of Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach. In 2019, Austin Riley, currently manning third base for the Braves, primarily played left field. The reason: Josh Donaldson. Donaldson had a great year (124 OPS+) and used it to sucker a team into committing at least $90 million to him. The Braves didn’t want to commit the years and cash to Donaldson in free agency, so it would require the Twins to kick in a large amount of money. Hansel Robles could be a cheap bullpen option for any team looking to make a bullpen upgrade. Especially if that team isn’t sure where it’s going to stand in August. Jose Berrios and Taylor Rogers could help out any team who plans to compete in 2022, though if the Twins were motivated to move them, that market would probably grow in the off-season. Who Could The Twins Get Back? Kyle Muller, RHP, 23yo - Muller is MLB-ready and has spent time both with the Braves and at AAA. He may not project as more than a mid- to late-rotation contributor if he can’t bring his walk rate down. But at 23, Muller still has upside. Freddy Tarnok, RHP, 22yo - Tarnok is a prospect who comes with both a high-ceiling and a low-floor. The fastball that nearly reaches triple-digits is something to like. His slider and changeup are still works in progress. If both improve, you have a starter with a lot of potential. If neither become a usable pitch, you likely end up with someone who never cracks the big-league roster. Ambioris Tavarez, SS, 17yo - The Twins have added a number of shortstops to their system over the last ten years, yet there is no obvious answer to the question, “Who is the Twins shortstop of the future?” Tavarez has yet to make his professional debut. But if the Twins are building for the future, adding another shortstop would make sense. View full article

The Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series and have a chance to be baseball's first back-to-back champion in over 20 years. Atlanta's front office has been aggressive with signing their young core. Is that an approach for Minnesota to consider? Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn, USA Today Sports Baseball organizations tend to follow the trends set by other successful teams. In recent years, the Braves have solidified themselves as a model franchise, and other organizations will look to copy their winning model. The club's ability to sign players to long-term contracts is part of its success. Is this approach something the Twins should consider? Earlier this week, the Braves announced they signed rookie starting pitcher Spencer Strider to an extension that buys out his arbitration seasons while giving the team two extra years of control. Michael Harris II, another Braves rookie, also signed an extension earlier this season that followed a similar structure. These aren't the only players the Braves have been able to lock up. Besides Strider and Harris, Atlanta has also signed some of their other top players to long-term deals. Matt Olson and Austin Riley signed extensions during the 2022 season. Previously, the Braves had signed Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies to very friendly long-term deals. Atlanta is guaranteeing money to players beyond their arbitration years which has risk, but the Braves are hoping to see the players outperform the value they are paying. The Braves and the Twins have different philosophies when creating their rosters. Atlanta has over $150 million in guaranteed money on the books for 2024, with nearly $100 million going out as far as 2028. Minnesota's front office likes to have payroll flexibility and tends to avoid long-term deals. Byron Buxton and Randy Dobnak are the only Twins players with options that extend beyond 2025. During the 2022 season, the Braves' payroll ranked in baseball's top 10, while the Twins ranked slightly below league average at 16th. Atlanta's long-term investments come with inherited risk. Players can suffer catastrophic injuries and miss significant playing time. There is also no guarantee that these players will continue to develop at the big-league level. The Braves have already won a World Series, and they hope they can contend for multiple other titles over the next five years. Fans can forget poor play if World Series flags are flying forever. Atlanta can also hope that a few of these players produce at a superstar level to outweigh the dead money on the other contracts. For the Twins to follow the Braves' strategy, the right players are needed to make these deals work out in the team's favor. Minnesota signed Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler to team-friendly extensions, and an argument can be made that both contracts worked out in the team's favor. Polanco's contract can max out at $48.25 million, and he has provided the Twins with nearly $80 million in value since 2019. Kepler's deal can be worth just over $42 million, and he has been worth $72.6 million. Those deals have worked out in Minnesota's favor, so who can the team target for extensions? Health has been the biggest issue for young Twins players, including many of the team's recent top prospects like Alex Kirilloff, Royce Lewis, Matt Canterino, and Trevor Larnach. All these players might be extension candidates if health wasn't a question at the beginning of their big-league careers. Those aren't the only players who are extension candidates following the 2022 season. Luis Arraez, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, and Jose Miranda are some younger players the Twins could consider for a long-term extension. Arraez won his first batting title in 2022, and the Twins have him under team control for three more seasons. It will be harder to lock-up Arraez as he gets closer to free agency. Ryan, Duran, and Miranda are pre-arbitration eligible, so they are under team control through the 2027 season. The Twins can try and sign them early to gain extra years of team control. Minnesota's current front office likes to clean the team's long-term books, which allows for more flexibility. However, other teams are locking up their young players to help the organization continue to win. Do you think the Twins front office needs to change strategies? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The seventh road trip of the 2023 Twins season covers the most amount of days, with three series taking the Twins through Detroit, Atlanta, and Baltimore. It’s time to make a mid-season run against the Tigers, Braves, and Orioles! Comerica Park, Truist Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Let’s begin… Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports June 23-25 @ Detroit Tigers (3 games) Comerica Park - 2022 attendance was 1,551,149 (ranked 10th out of 15 AL teams, 22nd overall MLB) The latest iteration of Tigers baseball launched in 2000, as Comerica Park attempted to replace a jewel box ballpark icon in Tiger Stadium. How did they do it? Well, for starters, they built a bunch of giant Tiger statues. Then they made the dimensions of the outfield astronomical in nature. The walls were so far back that they realized they messed up and brought them back in 2003. Players’ stats continue to take a hit from the dimensions, and the conversation on bringing in the walls is circulating again. Comerica Park hasn’t been hospitable to the Twins for the past three seasons. Despite Detroit being in the dumps, they have been 14-9 vs. the Twins since 2020. The path back to the top of the central requires a change in this trend. We’ve shared Ron Gardenhire, Jack Morris, Torii Hunter, Robbie Grossman, Jonathan Schoop, Akil Baddoo, Dan Gladden, and now Willi Castro. Familiarity breeds something. Hopefully, in 2023 it breeds wins. Located just a few blocks from the Detroit River/Canadian Border, Comerica Park sits in the downtown district, with plenty of entertainment and eatery options. There is a Motown Museum, The Corner Ballpark (a recreation of Tiger Stadium), the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Henry Ford Museum just down the road. In-Stadium attractions include a carousel, Ferris Wheel, and the Tigers Hall of Fame. It's 923 miles from Mitchell, SD, to Detroit. There is a 10-11 hour drive from Detroit to our next destination, so it's doable by car. It’s not optimal, but it is a trip through a part of the country that I’ve never been through. The players never experience the “in-between” zones of America on their trips from stadium to stadium. This is one perk of self-travel that I’m going to enjoy. June 26-28 @ Atlanta Braves (3 games) Truist Park - 2022 attendance was 3,129,931 (ranked 3rd out of 15 NL teams, 4th overall MLB) Baseball arrived in Atlanta in 1966, but the national audience for the Braves arrived with TBS. Even a kid in the middle-of-nowhere South Dakota could watch the Braves long before he could watch the Twins. This made the 1991 World Series that much more exciting. The Atlanta Fulton County Stadium we watched in 1991 made way for Turner Field (aka. Olympic Stadium) in 1997. The Braves' most recent move in 2017 took them to the suburbs, to mixed reviews. On the one hand, the Braves got a chance to build a baseball community center with neighborhood revenue-gathering machines. On the other hand, folks now need cars and cash to get to the games. Twins history with Atlanta? These were just the defining moments of any Twins fan alive in the early 90s. Eddie Rosario helped return the World Series to them in 2021. That stung a bit. In between? There was just a whole lot of losing by both squads. Restarting an annual series against the Braves seems like a great way to revive a rivalry! Truist Park resides in a mixed-use entertainment district called “The Battery.” Designed to curate the entire baseball consumer’s experience, it's arguably the wave of the future (see also Globe Life Field in Texas). As a tourist from the Midwest, this format suits me just fine! Yet, the energy of a downtown ballpark creates a different atmosphere. The park is clean and modern in stadium, with Hank Aaron tributes and historic moment monuments scattered throughout. “The Freeze” (@beatthefreeze) race between innings also looks intriguing. Atlanta boasts the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, MLK Jr. National Historical Park, and the Center for Puppetry Arts. I will not see puppets, but to each their own. I’m excited to see the region. After watching the past few election cycles, I’ve memorized Georgia county by county! It will be good to put some names and faces to the actual humans there. It’s 710 miles from Detroit to Atlanta. Lodging in “The Battery” is quite pricey, but the convenience factor is important to consider. Rest and quality nutrition begin to matter more on a ten-day road trip. Hopefully, the Twins are riding a winning streak as they turn back north to Baltimore. June 30-July 2 @ Baltimore Orioles (3 games) Oriole Park at Camden Yards - 2022 attendance was 1,368,367 (ranked 11th out of 15 AL teams, 23rd overall MLB) Oriole Park at Camden Yards will forever be tied with Ken Griffey Jr. in my mind. Not because of anything that transpired there but because the Ken Griffey Jr. Super Nintendo game was the first time I saw the ballpark. Built in 1992, Camden Yards changed aesthetic templates for Major League ballparks. The warehouse in right-center frames a beautiful backdrop for baseball and batter’s dreams. The seats are designed for viewing baseball, but the third-base line is the way to go. Legends Park holds statues of Orioles greats, the walkways bustle with food and fun, and the city itself carries a history of the birthplace of baseball immortality, Babe Ruth. The Inner Harbor and National Aquarium are tourist destinations that boast ships straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean and over 17,000 animals. Locals have been pursuing a Loch Ness-type creature named “Chessie” since the ’30s. Ok, interesting. My friends in the area don’t describe Baltimore as a vacation hotspot, but it sounds like a great 2.5 days to me! It was 676 miles from Atlanta to Baltimore and another 1338 miles home. This trip screams epic, but it also whispers impossible. An excellent trip for the Twins, and they head into the All-Star break in style. A poor showing over these ten days and the trade deadline might mean more than the playoff push. Now it's your turn to plan! If you have been to Comerica Park, Truist Park, or Oriole Park at Camden Yards, please post your list of "best seats" and "must-sees." Is anyone else planning on going to these series? Grace and peace, Twins Territory! Thanks for the help! View full article

The night after the Minnesota Twins got their first walk-off home run of the season, they sent their ace to the mound to try and clinch the series against the National League East leading Atlanta Braves. That wasn't meant to be, as Jose Berrios had perhaps the worst night of his career, helping the Braves tie up the series at a game apiece with their 12 to 7 victory over the Twins.Box Score Berrios: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 9 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 64.9% strikes (63 of 97 pitches) Home Runs: Cruz 2 (32), Garver (21), Rosario (24) Multi-Hit Games: Cruz (4 for 5, 2 HR), Rosario (2 for 5, HR) WPA of +0.1: None WPA of -0.1: Berrios -.271 It didn’t take long for the Braves to respond to last night's walk-off home run, with a home run of their own. On the first pitch of the game, Ronald Acuna Jr. took Jose Berrios deep to give the Braves a quick 1-0 lead. I guess this is what Acuna was jogging in for last night while Miguel Sano’s home run was still in the air. The Braves were able to get to Berrios again in the top of the third. After an Acuna walk, and an Ozzie Albies single, Freddie Freeman went deep for the second time in this series. However, unlike the one last night that needed every inch to get over the wall in left, this one was crushed well over the center field wall. After adding another run in the fifth, the Braves blew the game open with six runs in the top of the sixth. The innings looked like it wasn’t going to amount to anything, as two of the first three Braves to come to the plate in the inning struck out. However, that was followed by the Braves going single, single, triple, single, double, single, before Adam Duvall struck out for the second time in the inning. When all was said and done, the Braves had an 11-0 lead, with nine earned runs charged to Jose Berrios. That is the most earned runs Berrios has allowed in his entire professional career. The bats finally woke up for the Twins in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nelson Cruz got the scoring going with this blast. After an Eddie Rosario single, Mitch Garver followed with a no-doubter of his own, trimming the Braves lead all the way down to… well 11-3. The Twins threatened with a couple of two-out walks later in the inning but were unable to tack on any more runs. However, the Twins weren’t done scoring quite yet. In the bottom of the seventh, Max Kepler and Jake Cave led off with a couple of singles, setting the stage for Nelson Cruz to hit his second home run of the night, and 16th home run since the All-Star Break. The Braves tacked on another run in the top of the eighth, thanks to three more hits from the middle of the Brave order. In the bottom of the ninth, Eddie Rosario took new Braves closer Shane Greene deep to the opposite field for the Twins fourth home run of the night. Bullpen Usage Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days: Next Three Games Wed vs ATL, 12:10 pm CT (Fried-Perez) Thu vs CLE, 7:10 pm CT (TBD-TBD) Fri vs CLE, 7:10 pm CT (TBD-TBD) Last Game Twins Game Recap (8/5): May Throws Fire, Sano Launches a Walk-Off Bomb in Twins Win Click here to view the article

Last season, Eddie Rosario was a key player for the Braves on their way to a World Series title. Can any other former Twins help their club find postseason glory in 2022? Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports Plenty of former fan favorites populate the rosters of the National League’s best teams this season. Not all of these players have performed admirably this season, but the playoffs allow for players to shine on the biggest stage. Here are eight former Twins to watch on the NL’s playoff teams. Mets: Trevor May, Eduardo Escobar Escobar is in his 12th big league season with his fifth different organization. During the 2022 campaign, he has been the primary third baseman for the Mets in their fight for the NL East title. However, his defense at third ranks among the NL’s worst for third basemen, as only Alec Bohm has a lower SDI. Escobar provides other dynamics to a club as he has an OPS+ above 100 for the fifth consecutive season, where he has played more than 60 games. The Mets haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, so the club has pressure to win in October. May is heading to free agency at the season’s end, so he wants to end his Mets tenure on a high note. In 23 appearances, he has an ERA north of 5.50 with a 1.57 WHIP. He is striking out more than ten batters per nine innings for the sixth consecutive season. He’s had multiple IL stints this year for a stress reaction on the lower portion of his humerus and a COVID situation. In September, he has a 3.14 ERA while holding opponents to a .694 OPS, so the Mets hope this carries over to the postseason. Braves: Jake Odorizzi, Ehire Adrianza, Eddie Rosario, Robbie Grossman Odorizzi was pitching well for the Astros to start the season, but the Braves traded for him at the deadline for reliever Will Smith. Since joining Atlanta, Odorizzi has posted a 5.66 ERA with a 1.67 WHIP in nine starts. Odorizzi isn’t guaranteed to make the playoff rotation with other strong pitchers, but Spencer Strider’s injury may give Odorizzi an opportunity. Adrianza made ten playoff appearances during the Braves’ 2021 World Series run, and the club found a way to bring him back for 2022. He started the year in the Nationals organization, but the Braves traded Trey Harris to Washington for Adrianza. So far in 2022, Adrianza has hit .174/.267/.207 (.473) in limited action. He will likely serve as a bench option for Atlanta as a late-inning defensive replacement. Rosario was a playoff hero for the Braves last season, winning the NLCS MVP before heading to free agency. Atlanta re-signed the outfielder to a 2-year, $18 million contract, and he’s having a career-worst offensive season. In 76 games, he has posted a 69 OPS+ with 18 extra-base hits. Rosario has missed time this season with an eye injury and a hamstring problem. Can Rosario make Braves fans forget his poor season with another October to remember? After leaving the Twins, Grossman revitalized his career in the A’s and Tigers organizations. Since 2019, he has posted a 99 OPS+ while playing strong outfield defense. The Braves acquired Grossman from the Tigers at the trade deadline for Kris Anglin, and he has raised his OPS by 61 points since moving to the NL. Atlanta has multiple outfield injuries that may push Grossman into a more critical role. Dodgers: Brusdar Graterol Graterol is having his best big-league season as he has set career-best marks in ERA, strikeouts, H/9, and ERA+. Los Angeles continued to use him in late-inning situations as he earned the first three saves of his career. His postseason numbers are even better than his regular season totals. In 18 appearances, he has a 2.04 ERA with a 0.62 WHIP and a 13-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. The Dodgers look like one of baseball’s best teams, and Graterol will be asked to get some big outs in October. Phillies: Kyle Gibson The Phillies are fighting for their playoff lives, and Gibson might be one of the players to push them into the postseason. Gibson is heading to free agency this winter, so October is an opportunity for him to shine. Last season, he was a first-time All-Star but struggled after being traded to the Phillies (5.09 ERA). In 2022, he posted a 4.84 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP across 30 starts. Gibson was terrific in August with a 2.30 ERA as he held batters to a .637 OPS. Philadelphia will need that version of Gibson to make a deep October run. Can any of these players have an Eddie Rosario-type October in 2022? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

FORMER TWINS WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED ON THE MINNESOTA TWINS ROSTER AND ARE STILL IN BASEBALL! PITCHERS: LANCE LYNN (White Sox), LIAM HENDRIKS (White Sox), RICH HILL (Red Sox), HANSEL ROBLES (Red Sox), J.T. CHARGOIS (Rays), MATT WISLER (Rays), JOSE BERRIOS (Blue Jays), SERGIO ROMO (Mariners/Jays), MARTIN PEREZ (Rangers), JAKE ODORIZZI (Astros/Braves), RYAN PRESSLY (Astros), BRUSDAR GRATEROL (Dodgers), SEAN POPPEN (Diamondbacks), ALEX COLOME (Rockies), TYLER KINLEY (Rockies), ZACK LITTELL (Giants), KYLE GIBSON (Phillies), TREVOR MAY (Mets), JOHN CURTISS* (Mets), TAYLOR ROGERS (Padres/Brewers), MICHAEL PINEDA (Tigers). CATCHERS: MITCH GARVER (Rangers), JASON CASTRO (Astros), KURT SUZUKI (Angels), BEN RORTVEDT (Yankees). INFIELDERS: JONATHAN SCHOOP (Tigers), JOSH DONALDSON (Yankees), MARWIN GONZALEZ (Yankees), NIKO GOODRUM (Astros), ANDRELTON SIMMONS (Cubs), C.J. CRON (Rockies), EDUARDO ESCOBAR (Mets), EHIRE ADRIANZA (Nationals/Braves), OUTFIELDERS: ROBBIE GROSSMAN (Tigers/Braves), AARON HICKS (Yankees), LaMONTE WADE (Giants), EDDIE ROSARIO (Braves). DESIGNATED HITTER: NELSON CRUZ (Nationals). ADDED TO MAJORS DURING 2022 SEASON: ANDREW VASQUEZ (Blue Jays/Giants), RALPH GARZA JR. (Rays), ROB REFSNYDER (Red Sox), J.T. RIDDLE (Reds), CHASE DE JONG (Pirates), KYLE BARRACLOUGH (Angels), AARON WHITEFIELD (Angels), ILDEMARO VARGAS (Cubs/Nationals), TAYLOR MOTTER (Reds), WILLIANS ASTUDILLO (Marlins), BRENT ROOKER (Padres/Royals), CHI CHI GONZALEZ (Brewers/Yankees), TOMMY MILONE (Mariners), SHAUN ANDERSON (Jays), TYLER CLIPPARD (Nationals), IAN GIBAUT (Guardians), TRAVIS BLANKENHORN (Mets), DEREK LAW (Tigers), JOSE GODOY (Pirates), LUKE FARRELL (Cubs/Reds), YENNIER CANO (Orioles), JHAREL COTTON (Giants), BEN RORTVEDT (Yankees). TRADED TO TWINS: AARON SANCHEZ (Nationals), TYLER THORNBURG (Braves), JORGE LOPEZ (Orioles), TYLER MAHLE (Reds), SANDY LEON (Guardians), MICHAEL FULMER (Tigers), AUSTIN DAVIS (Red Sox). SUSPENDED: HECTOR SANTIAGO! *players opening season on injured list. And CONTINUE ON for a list showcasing all former Twins, Major and Minor Leagues, still playing ball or coaching somewhere, as well as (an added special bonus) unsigned draftees - players that "got away" by the Twins - still participating in Major League organizations. And – COMING SOON! Former Twins in the Foreign Leagues and Independent Baseball!! ORGANIZATION LIST OF FORMER TWINS MAJORS/MINORS & FIELD STAFF. A look at Former Twins and Organizational Players in other organizations. Includes guys who played in the minors and, as an added bonus, unsigned Twins draftees that are playing for other teams. * Players Who Were On A Twins Major League Roster in CAPS AMERICAN LEAGUE CHICAGO WHITE SOX LIAM HENDRIKS – Pitcher LANCE LYNN – Pitcher Mark Payton - Outfielder (unsigned) Major League Staff: HOWIE CLARK (c). Minor League Players: D.J. Burt. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS IAN GIBAUT - Pitcher SANDY LEON - Catcher Major League Staff: VIC RODRIGUEZ (c). Minor League Players: Cade Smith (unsigned), Jonathan Engelmann (unsigned), IAN HAMILTON. KANSAS CITY ROYALS BRENT ROOKER - Outfielder Major League Staff: Pedro Grifol (c), Allan de san Miguel (c), Damon Hollins (c). Minor League Players: .Brad Peacock. Minor League Staff: BRIAN BUCHANAN (c), STEVE LUEBBER (c), ANDRE DAVID (c), Mike Tosar (c), Jason Simontacchi (c). DETROIT TIGERS JONATHAN SCHOOP – Infielder Akil Baddoo – Outfielder ROBBIE GROSSMAN – Outfielder MICHAEL PINEDA - Pitcher DEREK LAW - Pitcher MICHAEL FULMER - Pitcher Major League Staff: A.J. Hinch (m) (unsigned). Minor League Players: J.T. Perez, NICK VINCENT, Marcus Solbach, Logan Shore (unsigned). Minor League Staff: Doug Bochtler (c), Billy Boyer (c), Dax Fiore (c). BALTIMORE ORIOLES Tyler Wells – Pitcher Marcos Diplan - Pitcher JORGE LOPEZ - Pitcher Jake Reed - Pitcher YENNIER CANO - Pitcher Mike Baumann - Pitcher (unsigned) Major League Staff: Matt Borgschulte (c). Minor League Players: Xavier Moore, Ricky Ramirez, Cade Povich, Juan Nunz, Juan Rojas, Chris Vallimont. Minor League Staff: Cody Asche (c), Alan Rail (c). BOSTON RED SOX RICH HILL – Pitcher HANSEL ROBLES - Pitcher J.P. Martinez – Outfielder (unsigned draftee) ROB REFSNYDER - Outfielder Jaylin Davis - Infielder AUSTIN DAVIS - Pitcher Major League Staff: Alex Cora (m) (unisgned draftee), Andy Fox (c), Jason Varitek (c) (unsigned draftee), Pater Fatse (c) Minor League Players: DANNY SANTANA. Minor League Staff: PAUL ABBOTT (c), BOB KIPPER (c), Lance Carter (c) (unsigned), Joe Cronin (c), Corey Wimberly (c). NEW YORK YANKEES JOSH DONALSON – Infielder AARON HICKS – Outfielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa – Infielder MARWIN GONZALEZ - Infielder Luis Gil - Pitcher Luke Brad - Pitcher BEN RORTVEDT - Catcher Major League Coaches: Collin Theroux (c). Minor League Players: TYLER DUFFEY, RYAN LAMARRE. Minor League Staff: Selwyn Langiagne (c), Sergio Santos (m). TAMPA BAY RAYS J.T. CHARGOIS – Pitcher MATT WISLER - Pitcher Chris Mazza - Pitcher Luke Raley - Outfielder Brooks Raley – Pitcher RALPH GARZA JR. - Pitcher Dusten Knight - Pitcher Calvin Faucer - Pitcher Luke Bard - Pitcher Minor League Players: AARON SLEGERS, Nick Anderson,. Minor League Staff: Brady Williams (m), Jamie Nelson (c), JEFF SMITH (m), Frank Jagoda (c). TORONTO BLUE JAY JOSE BERRIOS – Pitcher ANDREW VASQUEZ - Pitcher George Springer – Outfielder (unsigned draftee) Casey Lawrence - Pitcher SHAUN ANDERSON - Pitcher SERGIO ROMO - Pitcher Minor League Players: Stevie Berman. Minor League Staff: Matt Hague (c). OAKLAND A's Deolis Guerra – Pitcher Major League Staff: MARCUS JENSEN (c), DUSTIN HUGHES (c), PAUL SRENTO (c). Minor League Players: Gabriel Maciel, Tyler Watson, Dalton Sawyer (unsigned). Minor League Staff: Jason Hart (c), Don Schulze (c). SEATTLE MARINERS SERGIO ROMO – Pitcher TOMMY MILONE - Pitcher Minor League Players: FERNANDO ABAD, ANDREW ALBERS, Chris Mazza, Anthony Vizcaya, Prelander Berroa. Minor League Staff: Eric Farris (m). TEXAS RANGERS MITCH GARVER – Catcher MARTIN PEREZ – Pitcher Taylor Hearn - Pitcher (unsigned draftee) Major League Staff: BOBBY WILSON (c), Seth Conner (c). Minor League Players: Kyle Cody (unsigned), WILSON RAMOS, Drew Strotman, EDWAR COLINA, Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa (unsigned), HOUSTON ASTROS JAKE ODORIZZI – Pitcher RYAN PRESSLY – Pitcher JASON CASTRO – Catcher NIKO GOODRUM – Infielder Major League Staff: Joe Espada (c), Jason Kanzler (c). Minor League Players: Joe Record, Alex McKenna (unsigned). Minor League Staff: GREGORIO PETTIT (m), Mickey Storey (c) (unsigned), Michael Thomas (c). LOS ANGELES ANGELS KURT SUZUKI – Catcher KYLE BARRACLOUGH - Pitcher AARON WHITEFIELD - Outfielder PHIL NEVIN - Manager Zack Weiss - Pitcher Major League Staff: Jeremy Reed (c), DREW BUTERA (c), Matt Biancuzzo (t). Minor League Players: Trey Cabbage, B.J.Boyd. Minor League Staff: Ray Olmedo (c). NATIONAL LEAGUE CHICAGO CUBS ANDRELTON SIMMONS – Infielder ILDEMARO VARGAS - Infielder LUKE FARRELL - Pitcher Minor League Players: STEPHEN GONSALVES, John Hicks, Andrew Romaine, Greg Deichmann (unsigned). Minor League Staff: Marty Pevey (m), CHAD ALLEN (c), MICHAEL RYAN (m), MIKE MASON (c), ARMANDO GABINO (c), Enrique Wilson (c), D'Angelo Jimenez (c). CINCINNATI REDS J.T. RIDDLE - Infielder TAYLOR MOTTER - Infielder TYLER MAHLE - Pitcher Chase Anderson - Pitcher (unsigned) LUKE FARRELL - Pitcher Spencer Steer - Infielder Major League Staff: LEE TUNNELL (c), JEFF PICKLER (c). Minor League Players: Justin Nicolino, DEREK LAW, IAN GIBAUT, Stephen Hajjar, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Chase Petty. Minor League Staff: CORKY MILLER (c). MILWAUKEE BREWERS Kolton Wong – Infielder (unsigned draftee) CHI CHI GONZALEZ - Pitcher TAYLOR ROGERS - Pitcher TYLER THORNBURG - Picther Major League Staff: Quinton Berry (c), Jason Lane (c). Minor League Players: Moises Gomez, Marcus Walden, Brian Navaretto. Minor League Staff: Patrick McGuff (c). PITTSBURGH PIRATES Blake Cederlind – Pitcher (unsigned draftee) CHASE DE JONG - Pitcher JOSE GODOY - Catcher Major League Staff: DEREK SHELTON (m). Minor League Staff: Eric Munson (c), Matt Ford (c), Yorman Bazardo (c). ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Minor League Players: BLAKE PARKER, Ryan Holgate (unsigned), Kevin Marnon, Griffin Roberts (unsigned). Minor League Staff: Jose Leger (m). ARIZONA DIAMONBACKS SEAN POPPEN – Pitcher Major League Staff: DAVE MCKAY (c), MIKE FETTERS (c). Minor League Players: JUAN GRATEROL, JUAN CENTENO, Drew Stanikiewicz. Minor League Staff: Gil Velazquez (m) ORLANDO HUDSON (c). COLORADO ROCKIES Jhoulys Chacin – Pitcher ALEX COLOME – Pitcher TYLER KINNEY – Pitcher C.J. CRON – Infielder Sam Hilliard – Outfielder (unsigned) Major League Staff: MIKE REDMOND (c). Minor League Players: Nate Hadley, Ryley Widell. Minor League Staff: MARK WILEY (c), SAMUEL DEDUNO (c), Doug Linton (c). LOS ANGELES DODGERS BRUSDAR GRATEROL – Pitcher Tyler Anderson – Pitcher (unsigned draftee) Major League Staff: A.J. Hinch (m) (unsigned), Josh Bard (c) (unsigned), Danny Lehmann (c). Minor League Players: BEAU BURROWS, HANSEL ROBLES, Jake Reed, TOMAS TELIS, Jonny DeLuca (unsigned). Minor League Staff: BOBBY CUELLAR (c), Jair Fernandez (c). SAN DIEGO PADRES TAYLOR ROGERS - Pitcher BRENT ROOKER - Outfielder Minor League Players: Nick Burdi, Ian Krol, BRANDON KINTZLER, Luke Westphal, Daniel Camerera. Minor League Staff: SHANE ROBINSON (c), Mike McCarthy (c). SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS LAMONTE WADE – Outfielder ZACK LITTELL – Pitcher JHAREL COTTON - Pitcher ANDREW VASQUEZ - Pitcher Major League Staff: Antoan Richardson (c), J.P. MARTINEZ (c). Minor League Players: TREVOR HILDENBERGER, Kai-Wei Teng, Patrick Bailey (unsigned). Minor League Staff: GAVIN ALSTON (c), Dan Runzler (c), Ryan Vogelsong (c), Mike Couchee (c). ATLANTA BRAVES EDDIE ROSARIO – Outfielder Huascar Ynoa – Pitcher EHIRE ADRIANZA - Infielder JAKE ODORIZZI - Pitcher ROBBIE GROSSMAN - Outfielder Major League Staff: RON WASHINGTON (c). Minor League Players: MICHAEL TONKIN, Benjamin Dum, TAYLOR MOTTER, Jacob Pearson, Landon Leach. Minor League Staff: Mike Maroth (c), Danny Santiesteban (c), Luis Ugueto (c). MIAMI MARLINS Brian Anderson - Infielder (unsigned draftee) WILLIANS ASTUDILLO - Infielder Max Meyer - Pitcher (unsigned draftee) BILLY HAMILTON - Outfielder Major League Staff: JAMES ROWSON (c), Eddy Rodriguez (c). Minor League Players: Lewin Diaz, Tristan Pompey (unsigned). Minor League Staff: SCOTT ALDRED (c), GREG COLBRUNN (c), YOHAN PINO (c), GENE GLYNN (c), Jesus Merchan (c). NEW YORK METS TREVOR MAY – Pitcher EDUARDO ESCOBAR – Infielder JOHN CURTISS - Pitcher TRAVIS BLANKENHORN - Infielder Sam Clay - Pitcher Jake Reed - Pitcher Major League Staff: JEREMY HEFNER (c). Minor League Players: J.T. RIDDLE, Tom Hackimer, TZU-WEI LIN, Daniel Palka, Luke Ritter (unsigned). Minor League Staff: Robbie Robinson (m), Jerome Williams (c), Kevin Boles (c), TIM TEUFEL (c), Eduardo Nunez (c). PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES KYLE GIBSON – Pitcher Vinny Nittoli - Pitcher Minor League Players: Aaron Barrett (unsigned), James Marvel (unsigned), DREW MAGGI, RONALD TORREYES, Daniel Robertson, McCarthy Tatum (unsigned), Colton Eastmann (unsigned), Dalton Guthrie (unsigned). Minor League Staff: Joe Thurston (c), Rafael deLima (c), CHRIS HEINTZ (c), ADAM EVERETT (c), LES STRAKER (c). WASHINGTON NATIONALS NELSON CRUZ – Designated Hitter EHIRE ADRIANZA – Infielder Anibel Sanchez – Pitcher TYLER CLIPPARD - Pitcher Sam Clay - Pitcher AARON SANCHEZ - Pitcher ILDEMARO VARGAS - Infielder Major League Staff: Ricky Bones (c), HENRY BLANCO (c). Minor League Players: CHRIS HERRMANN, JUAN MINAYA, Jake Irvin (unsigned). Minor League Staff: MATT LECROY (m), Tim Doherty (c), Joe Dillon (c).

The Yankees, Astros, Red Sox, and White Sox all made moves a day before the deadline. The pressure is turning up on the Twins as time runs out. Let’s get you caught up. Take a look at the trades made on Monday. How many are of interest to Twins fans? Several former Twins players were traded to new teams. Several players the Twins may have had some interest in (or at least some fans did) were also dealt. PRELLER STRIKES AGAIN Padres receive: LHP Josh Hader Brewers receive: LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Dinelson Lamet, LHP Robert Gasser, OF Esteury Ruiz (Read more on this trade at Brewer Fanatic) WOW! Pre-deadline day began with a blockbuster involving one of the best relievers in baseball. The Padres sent former Twin Taylor Rogers, fire-breathing right-hander Dinelson Lamet and two prospects for Josh Hader, who’s tied with Edwin Díaz for the second-most reliever fWAR since his rookie season in 2017. Rogers will join the Brewers bullpen, carrying a 4.35 ERA to Milwaukee. Rogers was terrific out of the gate for the Padres but has struggled to an 8.14 ERA over his last 22 appearances. He had just lost his closer role. Padres’ POBO AJ Preller is known to get crazy in trades and free agency; this deal is his latest example. Hader hasn’t been himself lately but is undoubtedly a dominant force when he’s right. He’s under team control through 2023. Could the Twins have made an offer here? MONTAS TO THE BRONX Yankees receive: RHP Frankie Montas Athletics receive: LHP Ken Waldichuk, LHP J.P. Sears, RHP Luis Medina, 2B Cooper Bowman With Luis Severino hurt and the Yankees searching for their first World Series title since 2009, the Bronx Bombers made a big move for one of the best starters on the market. Montas, 29, owns a 3.18 ERA in 104 2/3 innings for the Athletics this season. According to MLB Pipeline, the Yankees shipped out their best pitching prospect in Waldichuk. In addition, the Athletics received the Yankees’ fourth-best pitching prospect in Medina and their Nos. 20 and 21 prospects in Sears and Bowman. The Twins liked Montas dating back to March but ultimately fell short in their offer. Montas was one of three controllable starters said to be available. Luis Castillo was another, and the Reds dealt him to the Mariners next week. Tyler Mahle is still available as of Monday night. In February, Keith Law ranked the Yankees’ system as the 22nd best in baseball. He ranked the Twins at No. 18, but that was before injuries and ineffectiveness plagued the top of their pitching pipeline. Either way, it feels like the Twins missed out here. ASTROS BEEF UP Astros receive: 1B/OF Trey Mancini, RHP Jayden Murray Orioles receive: RHP Seth Johnson, RHP Chayce McDermott Rays receive: CF José Siri While the Yankees filled a starting pitcher need, the Astros improved their lineup with two additions. First, they acquired Trey Mancini in a three-team deal involving the Tampa Bay Rays. Mancini, 30, is hitting .268/.347/.404 with 16 doubles, a triple, and ten homers in 92 games for the Orioles. AND THEY WEREN’T DONE THERE… Astros receive: C Christian Vázquez Red Sox receive: IF Emmanuel Valdez, OF Wilyer Abreu Identifying a lack of offense at the catcher position, the Astros acquired one of the better hitting backstops in baseball. Vázquez, 31, is hitting .282/.327/.432 and is a free agent following this season. According to MLB Pipeline, Valdez and Abreu were the 28th and 29th best prospects in the Astros system. While Ryan Jeffers recovers from a fractured thumb and Gary Sánchez scuffles at the plate, Vázquez felt like a strong and viable target and didn’t exactly break the prospect bank. WHITE SOX ADD LEFTY WITH GREAT STUFF White Sox receive: LHP Jake Diekman Red Sox receive: C Reese McGuire The White Sox are missing their best left-handed reliever in Aaron Bummer (lat strain), and he isn’t expected back particularly soon. They made a move for Jake Diekman to fill the hole, sending Major League catcher Reese McGuire back to Boston in the deal. Diekman, 35, has a 4.23 ERA in 38 ⅓ innings. He’s walked 30 and struck out 51, relying on a mid-90s fastball and a hard, high-spin slider. Diekman has shut down lefties (.566 OPS) but struggled against righties (.842 OPS). He fills a significant hole for the White Sox in their quest to catch the Twins in the Central. Diekman signed a two-year, $8 million contract in the winter and is under team control in 2023. If the White Sox can help him reign in his control, he’ll be a solid middle-innings option for them. The Red Sox got the White Sox’s third-string catcher in return. CARDINALS BOLSTER ROTATION Cardinals receive: LHP José Quintana, RHP Chris Stratton Pirates receive: RHP Johan Oviedo, 1B/3B Malcom Nuñez With rumors swirling about Juan Soto’s future, the Cardinals made a lower-wattage move by trading for former frontline starter José Quintana. Now pitching well for the Pirates, Quintana is enjoying a resurgence at 33. Quintana owns a solid 3.50 ERA in 103 innings for Pittsburgh while holding opponents to a .679 OPS, his lowest mark since 2017 (.659). Quintana is having one of the best years of his career, with his lowest strikeout rate (21%) since 2019. Quintana should provide some rotational stability for the Cardinals while their ace Jack Flaherty recovers from a shoulder problem. Quintana is a free agent after the season. In return, the Cardinals received 6-foot-5 righty Johan Oviedo and Malcom Nuñez, who was the Cardinals' ninth best prospect in 2021. The Twins could’ve used Quintana as a quality innings-eater. ODO TO THE SOUTH Braves receive: RHP Jake Odorizzi Astros receive: LHP Will Smith In a rare deal between two playoff teams, the Braves and Astros matched up on a one-for-one pitching trade Monday night. Jake Odorizzi spun seven scoreless innings against the Mariners Saturday, striking out eight and lowering his ERA to a solid 3.75 on the season. Odorizzi remains a serviceable mid-rotation starter and will pitch in the National League for the first time in his career. Way back in 2019, many Twins fans were hoping the team would make a run at Will Smith, an excellent reliever who shined in 2.5 years with the Giants. Smith instead signed a three-year deal with Atlanta and now switches leagues for the first time to join the Astros. Smith, 33, isn't as good as he once was, but he was excellent last year in the playoffs. Smith didn't allow a run in 11 postseason innings. Houston is hoping he deepens an already great bullpen. It's hard to say if the Twins would've had a chance to land the reliable lefty. They don't have any expendable starters and couldn't afford to give away any pitching from the big league roster. MORE DEADLINE MAGIC? Braves receive: OF Robbie Grossman Tigers receive: LHP Kris Anglin One year ago, the Braves traded for Eddie Rosario, Joc Pederson, and Jorge Soler. All three worked out wonderfully and the Braves won the World Series. They're hoping Robbie Grossman offers a similar punch this time around. Grossman, 32, is having a brutal season. He hit 23 homers and posted a 114 OPS+ in 2021 but hasn't translated that success in 2022. It's an interesting, pretty low-risk move for the Braves. Grossman, despite all of his struggles, is hitting .364/.479/.520 against lefties. He'll likely assume a platoon role in Atlanta with Rosario. The Braves recently lost Adam Duvall to a season-ending wrist injury, so Grossman assumes that spot through the rest of the season, after which he'll enter free agency. I was quietly wondering if the Twins would get involved for their old friend here. Their outfield is extremely banged up and Grossman simply isn't this bad. We'll see if the Twins target any corner bats as the deadline nears. So What's Next? The pressure is turned up on the Twins. They must improve this roster if they hope to hold on in the division and have a chance in October. Montas, Castillo, and Quintana are no longer options. Mahle is likely to move, as is Noah Syndergaard. The jury is out on Carlos Rodón and Nathan Eovaldi. Then there's the bullpen. Mychal Givens and David Robertson are still out there. Standout reliever Daniel Bard signed an extension with the Rockies, while the Yankees snagged Scott Effross from the Cubs. The market should take more shape Tuesday. The implications of this deadline are straightforward. The Twins are in first place with clear holes and a one-year, $35.3 million superstar at shortstop. The division is weak and the time is now. Will they do enough to supplement the team? Will they do anything? Once thing is for sure, this front office has surprised us before. Can they do it again? View full article

Returning home following a seven game road trip that saw the Minnesota Twins go 5-2, reinforcements made their debuts at Target Field during a three-game set with the hapless Kansas City Royals. Fresh off their first sweep since the end of May, Minnesota plays another interleague foe, this time without the silly caveat of a pitcher stepping into the box. The beginning of a seven-game tilt against Native- named teams, the Twins will look to chop down Atlanta.Brief Overview: These two clubs last faced each other in 2016 when sweeps were traded at the opposing teams ballparks. Atlanta leads the NL East by a healthy seven game margin, but their +58 run differential is nearly one-third of Minnesota’s +141 mark. The Braves have played at Target Field just five times, and the Twins will be looking for their first home win against the unusual foe since their debut game in the new digs. What They Do Well: Atlanta doesn’t possess a lineup quite to the level of Minnesota’s “A” group, but they aren’t far behind. Brian Snitker’s club is second in the National League in terms of offensive fWAR. They are top 10 in baseball when it comes to the long ball, and although the 103 wRC+ puts them near an average baseline, a .334 wOBA is just 4 points (.334) shy of the Dodgers for the top spot in the National League. It’s because of their offense that the Braves have created the lead they have in the NL East, and the run differential is a byproduct of them being able to score in bunches. It’s there where the positives begin to run out however, and if that differential seems like it’s because the Pythag suggests a 61-51 record is more appropriate. What They Do Not Do Well: For a team this good you’d expect the problems to be a bit more muted. Unfortunately on both the pitching and defensive fronts, there aren’t a ton of positives. As a whole, Atlanta’s pitching staff ranks 23rd in baseball. The starters are a respectable 17th but the abomination of a bullpen comes in at 29th. The front office attempted to address this by acquiring Chris Martin, Shane Greene, and Mark Melancon. Martin is a K/BB hero and brings a solid run in 2019 with the Rangers to the senior circuit. Melancon isn’t the guy he was a few years ago, but still has the chops to be a difference maker. Greene was supposed to be the headliner, but peripherals suggested likely regression and that’s come at the Braves expense thus far. In the field Atlanta is 25th in baseball. There’s no area that they significantly lack talent on defense, but the group as a whole falls short of mediocrity. This isn’t the Mets defense that Minnesota had a chance at a couple of weeks ago, but Atlanta does come in behind the divisional foe Chicago White Sox. Individuals Of Note: You can’t talk about Atlanta without first bringing up Ronald Acuna Jr. After winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2018 he’s had an amazing encore performance. Through the exact same number of games (111) he’s surpassed his 2018 fWAR (3.7) by 0.1. Batting for both power and average, he’s among the most fearsome hitters in the game today. Freddie Freeman continues to be a model of consistency at first base. While not producing defensively to the same Gold Glove-caliber of 2018, he should still be in the conversation. Continuing to fall out of bed and hit for a .300 average has been his MO for years, and the .950 OPS is the third best mark of his career. It wasn’t groundbreaking to expect a healthy Josh Donaldson to contribute for this club. He’s posted a 2.6 fWAR in 2019 and has a wRC+ (127) one point higher than teammate Acuna. Looking at Ozzie Albies as a thrown in would be doing him a disservice, but the point here is that this lineup packs some punch. On the bump it’s impossible to overlook game one starter Mike Soroka. This was always Julio Teheran’s rotation until the former first-round pick took over. He’s 22 years old, gives up the lowest HR/9 in the league, and totes a sparkling 2.37 ERA. Minnesota loves the long ball, but they could have their hands full in this one. Recent History: As noted above, these two teams don’t link up often. Since 2013 they’ve played a grand total of seven times with Atlanta winning five of them. In 2016 Minnesota took the last two contests between the clubs, winning 4-2 and 10-3 in Georgia. Recent Trajectories: Atlanta comes to Target Field having won six of their last ten, but did lose in extras to Cincinnati on Sunday. Minnesota has held serve against a trio of hapless opponents going 8-2 over their last ten, and is currently riding a three-game winning streak. Pitching Matchups: Monday: Odorizzi vs Soroka Tuesday: Berrios vs Fried Foltynewicz Wednesday: Perez vs Fried (Gausman claimed by Reds) Ending Thoughts: This seven game stretch is as about as important as it gets for the Fightin’ Baldelli's the rest of the way. Atlanta is no slouch and Minnesota can’t get caught looking ahead to Cleveland. They’ll take these teams on without Byron Buxton, and neither Michael Pineda nor Sam Dyson will be at their disposal. Getting through this upcoming week with five wins would be massive to set up the final stretch. I think Atlanta gets one of the trio, but give me Minnesota exposing the soft run differential a bit. Having not made predictions for the first few series previews, this prediction would makes it two in a row. Click here to view the article