Gabriel

Gonzalez

Rojas is the highest-profile prospect to join Minnesota’s 40-man roster in advance of next month’s Rule 5 Draft after coming over from the Blue Jays in the Louis Varland trade back in July. The soon-to-be 23-year-old southpaw posted a 4.70 ERA and 90/32 K/BB ratio across 69 innings over 19 appearances (18 starts) across four minor league levels.

Gonzalez had a disappointing first season in the Twins system after arriving in the Jorge Polanco deal with Seattle, but he’s been a force this season, hitting .319/.378/.529 in 34 games in High-A and then .344/.429/.509 in 55 games in Double-A. It’s unlikely that he’ll make his major league debut at age 21 this season, but he’s now just the one step away.

Gonzalez actually looks like the most intriguing addition out of the bunch for the Twins. The 20-year-old outfielder is considered a consensus top-100 prospect in baseball and ranked as the fifth best prospect in the M’s organization. Gonzalez split his 2023 season between Single-A Modesto and High-A Everett where he slashed a combined .298/.361/.476 with 18 homers, 84 RBI, 10 stolen bases and an 89/36 K/BB ratio over 535 plate appearances. He did struggle though upon his promotion to High-A ball, so don’t be surprised if he begins his tenure with the Twins at High-A Cedar Rapids.

The Twins will also receive right-hander Justin Topa, minor league outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez and minor league pitcher Darren Bowen. DeSclafani had just been acquired by the Mariners in early January along with Mitch Haniger in a trade from the Giants. His path to a full-time spot in a starting rotation looks much clearer with the Twins than it would have been with the Mariners.