AL Central Update: Minnesota Twins
AL Central Update: Minnesota Twins
Hitting:
Cruz is in the last year of his deal, I love Cruz as a player and again another guy I wish Seattle wouldn't have let go. BUT I am happy to see him in the postseason. He is in his age 39 season and still hitting dingers like crazy. barring any injuries, he should play beyond this year when he turns 40 he will continue to rake either with the Twins or elsewhere.
After last year's ankle injury which he probably never fully recovered from Eddie Rosario is in line for a rebound campaign. After posting below-average production at the plate. Expect a fully healthy Rosario help the twins just dominate.
The Twins did also extend Miguel Sano which is great for them.
Byron Buxton is still working back from shoulder surgery last September, but with the extra rest, he is getting now expect him healthy for the season. But if not Kepler should slide over to CF to cover again and the club has LaMonte Wade Jr, Jake Cave to fill in there as well. UTIL Marwin Gonzalez can also hold down RF if Kepler needs to be in CF.
Pitching:
Of course, of course, we see yet another 5th starter competition. Which is great to see because I think it's great for teams to be valuing that guy more and more. The rotation started off looking like Jose Berrios and no one else when the offseason started but since they rounded that our with Jake Odorizzi, Michael Pineda-whos career I am so happy to see flourishing now after a rough stint in NY after leaving Seattle, for sure one of those guys I wish we never traded. Pineda is also missing the first 6 weeks to serve a 60 game PED suspension. They also were part of the big LAD trade that brought Kenda Maeda-who reportedly asked to be moved. Rich Hill and Homer Bailey. Good solid vet guys, so with Pineda missing some of the seasons and at this point could be a bigger chunk with those 6 weeks. Randy Dobnak- this guy is probably just an awesome story. To summarize it- he went from no-name Indie league guy to make a postseason start last season after only 2 years. Devin Smeltzer- he showed well that he can handle MLB hitters and with his skill set of a fly ball kind of guy, the Twins awesome OF should have no problems defending him. Lewis Thorpe- former top 101 prospects has shown he can get strikeouts in AAA but hasn't been great in MLB action posting a 6.18ERA, not my favorite guy on this shortlist. We also have the NRI of Jhoulys Chacin who could join the bunch of vets they have and let these young get grow more at the AAA level. Chacin has had a productive career of that of the bottom of the rotation kind of guy.
Also to note Chacin was impressing the Twins before all this craziness happened and I couldn't be surprised if he ends up in the rotation when that time comes.
Overall:
The TWINS are stacked. Like I have said, I honestly think they are the 2nd best team after the Yankees and have a very tight window to win and they're going for it. I don't really see very many AL teams that will be able to compete with them and keep up with them offensively. They also have a solid rotation and a good pen to compliment. Watch out of the Twins!
Hitting:
Cruz is in the last year of his deal, I love Cruz as a player and again another guy I wish Seattle wouldn't have let go. BUT I am happy to see him in the postseason. He is in his age 39 season and still hitting dingers like crazy. barring any injuries, he should play beyond this year when he turns 40 he will continue to rake either with the Twins or elsewhere.
After last year's ankle injury which he probably never fully recovered from Eddie Rosario is in line for a rebound campaign. After posting below-average production at the plate. Expect a fully healthy Rosario help the twins just dominate.
The Twins did also extend Miguel Sano which is great for them.
Byron Buxton is still working back from shoulder surgery last September, but with the extra rest, he is getting now expect him healthy for the season. But if not Kepler should slide over to CF to cover again and the club has LaMonte Wade Jr, Jake Cave to fill in there as well. UTIL Marwin Gonzalez can also hold down RF if Kepler needs to be in CF.
Pitching:
Of course, of course, we see yet another 5th starter competition. Which is great to see because I think it's great for teams to be valuing that guy more and more. The rotation started off looking like Jose Berrios and no one else when the offseason started but since they rounded that our with Jake Odorizzi, Michael Pineda-whos career I am so happy to see flourishing now after a rough stint in NY after leaving Seattle, for sure one of those guys I wish we never traded. Pineda is also missing the first 6 weeks to serve a 60 game PED suspension. They also were part of the big LAD trade that brought Kenda Maeda-who reportedly asked to be moved. Rich Hill and Homer Bailey. Good solid vet guys, so with Pineda missing some of the seasons and at this point could be a bigger chunk with those 6 weeks. Randy Dobnak- this guy is probably just an awesome story. To summarize it- he went from no-name Indie league guy to make a postseason start last season after only 2 years. Devin Smeltzer- he showed well that he can handle MLB hitters and with his skill set of a fly ball kind of guy, the Twins awesome OF should have no problems defending him. Lewis Thorpe- former top 101 prospects has shown he can get strikeouts in AAA but hasn't been great in MLB action posting a 6.18ERA, not my favorite guy on this shortlist. We also have the NRI of Jhoulys Chacin who could join the bunch of vets they have and let these young get grow more at the AAA level. Chacin has had a productive career of that of the bottom of the rotation kind of guy.
Also to note Chacin was impressing the Twins before all this craziness happened and I couldn't be surprised if he ends up in the rotation when that time comes.
Overall:
The TWINS are stacked. Like I have said, I honestly think they are the 2nd best team after the Yankees and have a very tight window to win and they're going for it. I don't really see very many AL teams that will be able to compete with them and keep up with them offensively. They also have a solid rotation and a good pen to compliment. Watch out of the Twins!
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