When the Minnesota Twins traded beloved All-Star infielder Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners in January 2024, the fanbase was divided. Polanco was a productive, switch-hitting veteran and a clubhouse leader. In return, the Twins received a four-player package designed to provide both immediate bullpen help and future potential. However, as the 2025 season concludes, the immediate help has evaporated, leaving the trade's entire legacy resting on the shoulders of one young prospect: Gabriel Gonzalez.
The package for Polanco included two MLB-ready pitchers, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa, and two prospects, Gonzalez and pitcher Darren Bowen.