2012 MLB Season Preview: Minnesota Twins
By John Parent
Addressing the Problems
The Twins came into the Hot Stove season with many holes to fill and they wasted little time in jumping into the free agent shortstop market in adding veteran Jamey Carroll on a two-year deal. Unfortunately, Carroll’s signing didn’t signify a rash of major moves to come. Terry Ryan replaced Bill Smith as the club’s General Manager during the off-season in an attempt to re-build a decimated farm system, but not even Ryan’s stellar reputation in the Twin Cities couldn’t convince free agents Cuddyer and Kubel to re-sign with their now-former club. Slugger Josh Willingham was lured to Target Field to replace Cuddyer in right field and former Pirate Ryan Doumit will see time as both catcher and DH, but even if Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer can return to their previous levels of productions, this club doesn’t figure to have the same depth in their lineup as they should have had in 2011.
The Twins dealt away Slowey to Colorado (who then traded him to Cleveland) and watched as long-time closer Joe Nathan signed with Texas. Instead of waiting out the relief market like some of their rivals, Minnesota re-upped with right hander Matt Capps, who converted just 15 of 24 save chances a season ago. The Twins chose to sign the oft-injured flamer-thrower Joel Zumaya to a one-year, incentive-laden contract in February, but as almost should have been expected, Zumaya suffered a torn ligament in his right elbow in his first live BP session of the Spring. He will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the season.
Notable Additions: OF Josh Willingham, C/DH Ryan Doumit, SS Jamey Carroll, RP Joel Zumaya, RHP Jason Marquis
Notable Subtractions: INF/OF Michael Cuddyer, OF Jason Kubel, RP Joe Nathan, LHP Jose Mijares
Projected lineup
- Denard Span -CF
- Jamey Carroll -SS
- Joe Mauer -C
- Justin Morneau -1B
- Josh Willingham -RF
- Ryan Doumit -DH
- Danny Valencia -3B
- Alexi Casilla -2B
- Ben Revere -LF
Pitching staff
RHP Lester Olivaros