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After signing Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins contender in AL Central?

By Lorenzo Delgado

Jul 23, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) smiles and gives a fan a thumbs up during the seventh inning in a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 23, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) smiles and gives a fan a thumbs up during the seventh inning in a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carlos Correa has had quite a carrousel of an offseason. Reportedly signing with three teams in one offseason is unreal, but the Minnesota Twins were finally able to bring back their starting shortstop. With the signing of Correa, can this help their chances of winning the American League Central and making a trip back to the postseason?

The Minnesota Twins were looking like a postseason contender in the beginning of the 2022 season. However, as the season went on, plenty of key players started to deal with injuries. Starting pitcher Chris Paddack had to go undergo his second Tommy John surgery, Byron Buxton dealt with a prolonged hip and knee injury and had to undergo season-ending arthroscopic knee surgery, Carlos Correa was on and off the field dealing with a finger injury, and many other players landed on the IL. With all that being said, the Twins finished out the season under .500 and finished third in the division with a 78-84 record.

Twins off-season so far

Now going into the offseason, they traded away third baseman Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels and traded for Kyle Farmer from the Cincinnati Reds. The Twins went out and signed World Series champion Christian Vazquez, Gold Glove outfielder Joey Gallo, and the Dior product himself, shortstop Carlos Correa. With the Twins signings and acquisitions so far, they are looking to put a competitive group on the field.

Twins projected lineup and starting rotation

According to MLB Network, the projected lineup looks to set up like this:

  1. Luis Arraez, 1B
  2. Carlos Correa, SS
  3. Byron Buxton, CF
  4. Jorge Polonco, 2B
  5. Max Kepler, RF
  6. Jose Miranda, 3B
  7. Joey Gallo, LF
  8. Nick Gordon, DH
  9. Christian Vazquez, C

While the Twins projected starting rotations looks something like this:

  1. Sonny Gray
  2. Joe Ryan
  3. Tyler Mahle
  4. Kenta Maeda
  5. Bailey Ober

Are the Minnesota Twins considered a AL Central threat with Carlos Correa?

I will say this, if the Twins can stay healthy, I could see them and the Cleveland Guardians fighting for the top spot in the division. If the Twins don’t win the division, I can see them in a Wild Card spot for the postseason. But if the Twins are going to win the division or make it to the postseason, Buxton and Correa, who I believe are the leaders of the team, have to stay healthy for at least 130 games.

The Twins also have some young talent like Jose Miranda, Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, and Trevor Larnach who could take some bigger roles this upcoming season.

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Overall, Carlos Correa coming back to the Twins is a big boost for this team because he brings in his leadership and postseason experience, and that’s what the Twins organization need. The Twins haven’t won a postseason series since 2002, after beating the Oakland Athletics in the divisional round. With talented players already like Arraez, Polanco, and Buxton, Correa was the finishing piece they needed to build a winning team, so don’t be surprised if the Twins win the AL Central this coming year.

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