Series of Team Overviews for 2008; Minnesota TwinsFor Minnesota Twins fans, it's become tradition for players to move on once they hit free agency but for All-Stars Torii Hunter (one of the few to receive past contracts from the Twins) and Johan Santana, it stings just a little deeper than the past loses of Carlos Silva (also this past off-season), Corey Koskie, Christian Guzman, Jacque Jones, Kyle Lohse, Eric Milton and a horrible move of allowing David Ortiz to leave... but with Hunter, who signed with the Anaheim Angels and Johan Santana who was traded before leaving for nothing to the New York Mets it leaves the Twins without two of their premier players, clubhouse leaders and faces of the organization. Sure, Minnesota still has MVP first baseman Justin Morneau, catcher Joe Mauer, outfielder Michael Cuddyer, closer Joe Nathan and young phenom pitcher Francisco Liriano but Hunter and Santana leave big holes for the organization to fill.
Still, with all that said and all the changes this team seems to encounter on a regular basis, the Twins always play tough baseball and seem to make playoff pushes on a regular basis. Well, if they're going to do that this year, they'll need some young players and plenty of new faces to lead the charge, here is a look at the 2008 Minnesota Twins.
Offensively, the Twins utilized surplus in pitching and traded starter Matt Garza to Tampa Bay for young outfielder Delmon Young who will join Carlos Gomez and Cuddyer in the outfield. Gomez, acquired in the Santana deal is a speedy outfielder that can cover a lot of ground in centerfield but isn't expected to cover as much ground in the batters box replacing Hunter there too. In the infield, Morneau will have new faces as well with Brendan Harris at second (also acquired in Garza deal), Adam Everett a free agent defensive shortstop specialist pickup and free agent pickup Mike Lamb playing third. If anyone struggles than last years incumbents at second and at times third, Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto will get the call. With catcher, the Twins have one of the best both offensively and defensively with former #1 draft pick, Joe Mauer. Taking turns as designated hitter will be Craig Monroe and Jason Kubel. Runs will have to be manufactured and at times muscled out with likes of Morneau, Young and Cuddyer.
Two years ago, the Twins had two of the most feared left handed starters in the game with Santana and Liriano but Liriano would get hurt late in the 2006 season and miss all of last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery and now with Santana gone to the Mets, we'll likely never see this duo in action together again. But the Twins are excited to have Liriano returning and once he does, he'll figure to be the ace of this staff. Also returning in 2008 will be Scott Baker and Boof Bonser as well as the potential of other young Twins starters, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn and Gleen Perkins. Other starters include the veteran Livan Hernandez who will actually started on Opening Day and a possible starter later this season in Philip Humber who was also acquired via the NY Mets. Rounding out the staff in the bullpen in front of All-Star pitcher, Joe Nathan will be some of the best bullpen arms in the league with Pat Neshek, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Dennys Reyes, Juan Rincon and whoever doesn't make it as a starter.
In all, this team is not quite ready to challenge for the playoffs but they should be solid enough to have a .500 record or better and improve as the offense and pitching continue to develop. Twins fans will need them to as the payroll isn't likely to go up anytime soon...
Projected Lineup:
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1b
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Delmon Young, LF
6. Jason Kubel / Craig Monroe, DH
7. Mike Lamb / Nick Punto, 3b
8. Brendan Harris, 2b
9. Adam Everett, SS
Final Five:
1. Fantasy Value: Their remains some mainstays even without Hunter and Santana, those include the likes of Morneau, Mauer and Nathan. The most intriguing names following those are Liriano who could win 15 games and strike out over 175 batters, Cuddyer who always seems to have solid numbers by years end, Delmon Young and the speedy Carlos Gomez who may steal 40+ bases.
2. Most likely to be traded: Usually the player that is facing free agency is the big target for deals but those may have already been shipped out so what's left for trades, probably the surplus infielders like Punto, Casilla, Everett, Lamb and Harris. Some of the depth as starters may leave too for various needs that come up, mostly on the offensive side.
3. Break-out player for 2008: Delmon Young is already a household name as is Francisco Liriano so I'm gonna go with Carlos Gomez. Gomez, if he can hit for a healthy average (above .270) then we'll see a star in the making as Gomez is excellent defensively and can flat out fly on the base paths. Expect at least 40 steals from the Twins new centerfielder.
4. Farm Top Five: The Twins don't have as much in the minor leagues as they're use to but they still have some quality talent with pitcher Nick Blackburn and Tyler Robertson, outfielder Jason Pridie and Joe Benson and lastly, catcher Wilson Ramos.
5. 2008 Record Prediction: 81-81, 4th in AL Central
