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The Trade Deadline is obviously a time of significant change for many players, who have to leave behind the organization they’ve known with all of their now-former teammates and friends and meet an entirely new clubhouse -- and that’s not to mention the coordination they need to manage with their families, with many moves posing considerable life changes.

Here’s something that hopefully made it easier for three of the newest Twins to arrive at the Trade Deadline on Tuesday: Jorge López, Tyler Mahle and Michael Fulmer all had existing friendships within the Minnesota clubhouse.

“Having familiarity helps -- I don't know how to put it otherwise,” said Chris Archer, who was involved in a midseason trade from the Rays to the Pirates in 2018. “You guys have been in different work environments. If you know one person, even halfway know them, it's better than not knowing anybody. It definitely helps.”

López goes way, way back with Carlos Correa, considering their shared Puerto Rican heritage. The pair have known each other since they were teenagers on the amateur circuit and were teammates for Team Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Correa described his new teammate as “down-to-earth,” “open-minded” and another player who can connect with both the American and Latino contingents in the clubhouse.

“I grew up with him, playing with him,” Correa said. “I've known him since I was like 15. So yeah, I got to face him. I got to spend a lot of time with him when we went to the Perfect Game showcases. Know him very well. We stay in touch throughout it all, and I'm very happy. I texted him when it was official.”

Mahle was not only teammates with rotation-mate Sonny Gray for three seasons in Cincinnati, but the two right-handers were also locker-mates, with Gray speaking very highly of Mahle’s character and growth in those three years. They didn’t have much of an immediate chance to catch up, because Mahle arrived at Target Field late Wednesday, long after that day’s game, with Gray slated to start Thursday and Mahle set for his Twins debut Friday.

But they ran into each other in the training room Thursday -- and Mahle’s eyes lit up.

"When he walked in, I couldn't stop smiling,” Mahle said. “It was weird to see him, like, in front of me, because I don't know, he has such a presence, you know, in the clubhouse and everything. So seeing him walk in, it was cool."

And when Fulmer walked from the visitors’ clubhouse at Target Field to the home clubhouse when he was traded from the Tigers to the Twins two hours before a matchup between the clubs, he found himself lockering right next to Dylan Bundy, a fellow Oklahoman from his Draft class (they were selected 40 picks apart) who also shares his agent.

“I don’t know if they needed to stick my locker right next to his, but no, it’s good,” Fulmer said with a big laugh in the aftermath of the trade. “He’s already shown me a bunch of stuff in the hour I was over here before the game started.”