The Minnesota Twins are set to hit the spring training field in early March. This year’s team depends on one thing that has been missing for the last several years, healthy players. Apparently the club will go into spring camp this year with a healthy lineup. If the Twinkies are going to win the much more competitive AL Central this year, team leaders Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer will have to play a big role.
Key Additions
The Twins have been quite busy this offseason. Notable additions include Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Jamey Carroll, and Joel Zumaya. None of these names have major headline appeal like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, but they are all solid pickups in their own right.
Carroll is a defensive minded shortstop who batted .290 last year with the Dodgers and Willingham put up a respectable 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 2011 with the A’s.
Ryan Doumit is an interesting acquisition. He is a power hitting catcher that has been with the Pirates organization for the last several years. Of coarse the Twins don’t need any help in the catching department, but the acquisition of Doumit opens up an opportunity to use Mauer at DH occasionally and bolster the offense.
Joel Zumaya is a gamble. If he’s finally healthy, the reward will be great. Zumaya has a career ERA of 3.05 and career WHIP of 1.35. He missed the 2011 season with an elbow injury, but at the top of his game with Detroit he was firing fast balls over the plate in excess of 100 mph.
Depth Chart
DH: Danny Valencia
Catcher: Joe Mauer
First Base: Justin Morneau
Second Base: Luke Hughes
Third Base: Danny Valencia
Shortstop: Jamey Carroll
Left Field: Ben Revere
Right Field: Josh Willingham
Center Field: Denard Span
Pitching
The starting rotation will be anchored once again by thirteen year vet Carl Pavano. His career ERA is 4.33, and though Pavano is no spring chicken, in 2010 he proved that he can still get it done by putting up 17 wins and a 3.75 ERA. Brian Duensing and Francisco Liriano will also be back in the starting rotation this year.
Jason Marquis will be an interesting player to watch this year. Marquis is another veteran pitcher that has struggled with the Nationals and Diamondbacks in the last couple years. Don’t count the thirty-four year old out though. Just three seasons ago Marquis notched 15 wins for the Rockies.
Position Battles
Expect to see several position battles in spring training and possibly throughout the season. Second basemen Luke Hughes and Alexi Casilla have similar career numbers and are the same age. The guy who gets the call will probably be a situational decision.
Danny Valencia is currently the only third baseman on the depth chart. Don’t be surprised if Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer move over to first on the days that Doumit catches.