Minnesota Twins season preview

Well, the good news is that for the first time in 20 years, the Twins are coming off a season in which they won a playoff game. A series, even! That ultimate shame for the franchise is gone.

But that's about it for good news with the Twins this offseason. It's been a bad vibes offseason for sure. 

Chief among the negativity is the cheap ass Pohlads once again rearing their ugly heads. Sure, there was some uncertainty about how much TV money they were going to have coming in this year. That only got settled recently. And they sure jumped at that excuse to cut payroll (off a team that was as usual only middle of the pack anyway). Some of that payroll that.left will not be missed (Gallo, Pagan). Some will (Sonny Gray, Polanco). But almost nothing was done to replace the major losses, let alone add. 

Aging Carlos Santana was the big addition, and he could be a solid get. But that pitching that so many have boundless optimism for? I don't see it. 

They added all sorts of assorted relief pitchers off the scrap heap in various deals. Josh Staumont? Jay Jackson? Justin Topa? Steven Okert? I don't know who the hell any of these guys are, but maybe some will be functional. Problem is Jhoan Duran is already hurt, and when flamethrowers get hurt, that tends to linger. That leaves probably Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax to man the late innings. 

And the rotation? I also don't see the optimism. At the top is rock solid Pablo Lopez, and I do have high hopes for a full season of Bailey Ober. Joe Ryan could go either way. After that, hoo boy. People are just assuming that Chris Paddack will be good, but he hasn't had a good season since 2019 and hasn't pitched a full season at all since 2021. It is a massive leap to think he will be anything special. The #5 starter was supposed to be Anthony DeSclafani, who was largely a throw-in in the Polanco trade. But surprise, Falvine again traded for a broken pitcher who is now broken, and may miss the whole season. In steps Louie Varland, who showed much more promise as a reliever than a starter last year. 

And yet again, even after 8 offseasons of a front office hired due to their supposed skill drafting and developing pitching, the Twins still do not have a pipeline of MLB ready starters. There are a couple guys who might get called up, but nobody expected to be that good. Falvine have made some solid deals to get starting pitching, but their calling card remains theoretical. 

So, with a pitching staff already thin (and knowing they will inevitably have more injuries), the Twins may have to be carried this time by their lineup.

And I actually do think that is possible.

The Twins lineup enters the season without a single obvious hole in the starting 9. 

Santana will be a mix of 1B and DH. He will certainly offer more than Gallo did. Alex Kirilloff will mix in there too. 

With Polanco gone, 2B is Edouard Julien's spot now as he looks to build on his rookie year. 

Carlos Correa had a shaky season in 2023, but a strong postseason.

Rising star Royce Lewis rounds out the infield. A full season of him is maybe the #1 reason for excitement.

The very underrated Ryan Jeffers behind the plate again.

In the outfield, he is back. He is Byron Buxton, who every year is destroyed by injuries after we are told he won't be destroyed by injuries THIS time. So forgive me if I have some doubts. At least this year they ARE going to try to have Buxton back in center. Buxton is barely playable if he isn't adding defensive value, so if this thing fails again I don't know what the plan is. The Twins let Michael A. Taylor go, and replaced him with Manuel Margot. We will see a lot of him if/when Buxton gets hurt again. 

At the corners, Max Kepler is still here after reversing 3+ years of career implosion with a strong 2nd half last year. And sophomore masher Matt Wallner looks to mash some more.

The bench brings back solid utility guys like Castro and Farmer. And there are a couple higher level prospects who could provide reinforcements.

So yeah, I think this Twins club will score, and at times outscore the shaky pitching staff. Now, the Twins absolutely do not have a championship contending staff, and teams of their payroll rank don't win the World Series, so don't expect 1991.

Frankly, I would not even pick the Twins to repeat as division champs if I had any real belief in any other AL Central team. The only possibility seems to maybe the the Tigers, who made a jump to respectability last year and have some good young pitching. The Royals made some good additions but still seem far off. Last year's flop White Sox don't seem likely to bounce back in a big way, and while you can't dismiss Cleveland, I don't see them getting better post-Francona. 

So yeah, the Twins could be a deeply mediocre team this year and still repeat. I would be surprised if they won even 87 again, but hell, 81-81 might get it done. 

Can they win in October? Sure, a wild card series again, but they aren't bringing home any trophies. 

Overall, my World Series pick is, yeah, Yankees vs Dodgers. I figure at this point I might as well just keep picking the Yankees every year, cause maybe it jinxes them. Spoiler teams? Oh let's say Baltimore and Philadelphia.