NEW YORK -- The Twins were the last team in MLB to swing a trade in the week leading up to Tuesday’s 5 p.m. CT Trade Deadline -- and, as it turns out, that was their only move to shore up their roster from the outside ahead of the stretch run towards the postseason.

That deal on Tuesday afternoon brought in right-handed reliever Trevor Richards from the Blue Jays, but the day came and went without the Twins adding a starting pitcher to bolster their rotation -- which will mean the club will have to rely heavily on Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson as it pursues a second consecutive AL Central title.

The Twins sent High-A infield prospect Jay Harry -- not ranked in the organization’s Top 30 Prospects, per MLB Pipeline -- to Toronto to complete the deal.

TRADE DETAILS
Twins receive: RHP Trevor Richards
Blue Jays receive: INF Jay Harry

In Richards, the Twins get a right-handed reliever who has a 4.64 ERA this season but can pitch multiple innings and match up against both right-handed and left-handed hitters due to his heavy reliance on a changeup, which has helped the 31-year-old hold lefties to a .506 OPS this season.

“It’s somewhere where you have other guys that you can match up against certain people and then you can pitch him against almost anybody and feel good about it,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It wasn’t just a lefty discussion, but it is true. He can go out there and throw against lefties.”

The bullpen depth should help, considering the struggles of lefties Steven Okert and Caleb Thielbar, another flare-up of the shoulder injury to Brock Stewart that will send the setup man back to the injured list, and the departure of Josh Staumont after he was designated for assignment as part of Tuesday’s moves.

But ultimately, there was just as much focus on Tuesday on the lack of other pitching moves.

Twins leadership had been open about a desire to acquire rotation help leading into this Trade Deadline, but there had also been some indication that the club’s financial situation could serve as some hindrance to taking on longer-term financial commitments, and as the market began to move, the prices for even relievers and rental starters were clearly quite significant.

There were also indications that the sellers within the division -- the Tigers and White Sox -- weren’t willing to move arms like Erick Fedde or Jack Flaherty, who very well could have fit the Twins’ situation, to an AL Central rival.