If the Twins were going to trade away one of their franchise stalwarts in Jorge Polanco, they wanted to make sure to get the requisite return they felt would make such a deal worth it -- not just for this year, but also beyond. And they felt they did that, addressing their depth needs in both the rotation and bullpen while also adding a consensus Top 100 prospect in Gabriel Gonzalez.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the cash considerations the Twins are receiving in the deal mean they’re going to save roughly $5 million -- and one key implication of the deal is that the Twins expect to invest that freed-up money into additional help.

“With the trade and the way the cash all worked, we have some savings here just in this transaction alone that adds into the flexibility we have going through the free-agent market,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “We still think there are ways that we can utilize some of that money to address other ways to improve the club.”

Though depth starter Anthony DeSclafani perhaps isn’t the most flashy addition to the rotation, the least the Twins needed to acquire (if not a difference-making arm) was someone who could bolster the rotation depth behind Louie Varland, given the lack of such depth that had existed prior to the trade. Justin Topa also serves as a meaningful bullpen addition.

Could that be all on the pitching side? It looks as though the Twins could be shifting gears.

“I think we’re going to be flexible and open-minded to what it looks like with adds to the infield, what it looks like with adds to the outfield,” Falvey said. “And maybe there’s an opportunity to continue to add on the pitching side -- I think our focus might turn more to the position player route.”

Even the freed-up money probably won’t allow them to make a more significant commitment, but the Twins were served very well by their late Donovan Solano signing last Spring Training -- and that sort of pragmatic right-handed bat would be a logical follow-up to their trade splash.

As Falvey said, the Twins aren’t necessarily bound to signing either an infielder or an outfielder and can perhaps be more focused on the bat, because the defensive flexibility of Willi Castro, Nick Gordon and Austin Martin to move between the infield and outfield could allow them wiggle room -- but looking at the platoons, an outfielder could make more sense, since they’ve already got Kyle Farmer and Jose Miranda in the infield.

Could that be Michael A. Taylor, who remains unsigned and made for a great fit on the Twins’ roster last year? If the Twins could swing it, a bigger bat like Adam Duvall, who can play all three outfield spots and first base, could make a lot of sense.

Either way, remember that this Twins front office often hasn’t put the finishing touches on its roster until the very, very last minute -- at times into Spring Training, and even on Opening Day (with the Taylor Rogers trade in 2022), so keep an eye on the transaction wire.

Though both Varland and Matt Wallner are native Minnesotans who grew up in the Twin Cities, neither had any idea what was coming when they stepped off the tour bus and were greeted by a horde of men in bright red capes, mohawked hats and face paint, because it turned out neither had been to the St. Paul Winter Carnival before.

The leader in black held out a sword and held a knighting ceremony on behalf of the St. Paul Vulcans, the keepers of the Carnival -- a distinction held for those helping in the community.

“When the Vulcans do a knighting, it's to show that they've done something for the community, they're bringing some smiles, cheer,” said the man known only as King Vulcanus Rex the 86th, leader of the St. Paul Vulcans.

It was thus a fitting start to a three-day voyage around greater Minnesota, as the two current Twins, television play-by-play man Cory Provus and analyst LaTroy Hawkins hit Duluth, St. Cloud and Mankato for the three stops on the final leg of the Twins’ 2024 Winter Caravan -- bringing smiles, storytelling and charity to every step along the way.

It proved a highlight on the second day, when the Caravan rolled into Forest Lake Area High School in Wallner’s return to his hometown, as part of which the outfielder crushed a homer as a response to a challenge from a high school athlete and the Twins made a $2,500 donation to the Forest Lake athletic department to continue supporting youth athletics in the district.

And on the final day of the group’s grand tour of its home state, the Twins made a meaningful stop at Fallenstein Field in North Mankato, home to the Miracle League team in the area that provides opportunities for children and adults with all types of disabilities to participate in baseball, softball and wheelchair basketball to stay active.

The chilly afternoon breeze did nothing to dampen the spirits of all those gathered when Varland pitched to many of the Miracle League athletes while Wallner, Provus, Hawkins and T.C. Bear fielded balls behind him, with participants of all ages thrilled to be engaging with their beloved hometown team.

And to cap the afternoon’s festivities, the Twins made a $10,000 donation to the Miracle League to support the purchase of sports wheelchairs in a continued effort to make athletic pursuit accessible to all.

“Some days, if everybody shows up for practice, we're kind of pushing the limit there,” said Gregg Marg, the board chair of the North Mankato Miracle League. “So this is going to really expand our capacity so everyone can have a nice, quality chair to use.”

“To see all the smiles and an opportunity to hit off a Major League pitcher and how the Twins interact with them, it's just so cool and why we love the Twins so much,” said executive director Ashley Hanley.

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