2017 Season Preview: Minnesota Twins

Major Additions: Jason Castro, Matt Belisle, Ryan Vogelsong

Major Losses: Kurt Suzuki, Trevor Plouffe, Tommy Milone

Strengths: Youth

Weaknesses: Bullpen

Potential Breakout Stars: Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Jose Berrios, Max Kepler

This Twins team is overwhelmingly average. Like the White Sox, they have a nice mix of young talent and veteran leadership, but they're missing the real centerpieces to contend. On offense, Brian Dozier crushed 22 home runs in a 36 game span last season, but otherwise throughout his career, he hasn't been that far above average (career 107 wRC+, including that 36 game stretch). Joe Mauer is certainly no longer the player that won the 2009 AL MVP. After Dozier and Mauer, there is the addition of Jason Castro, but the real promise for Minnesota lies in its youth. Byron Buxton (age 23) and Miguel Sano (23) are the first two names that come to mind, and both could be superstars. Buxton has the all around skill set, while Sano brings the big time power. Other guys could be valuable, too. Max Kepler (24) hit 17 home runs as a rookie last year, and his career .363 on-base percentage in the minor leagues bodes well for his future. Eddie Rosario (25) has quietly been very productive for the Twins, slashing .268/.292/.443 (92 wRC+), and any improvement in his plate discipline could go a long way. Jorge Polanco (23) also quietly slashed .282/.332/.424 (101 wRC+) last season. Kennys Vargas (26) has already blasted 111 home runs in his pro career, with 87 coming in the minors and 24 in the majors. The rotation isn't quite as youthful, but there is the one big name, Jose Berrios (22), who has ace potential down the road. Ervin Santana, Hector Santiago, Kyle Gibson, and Phil Hughes will round out the rotation, and while that's not necessarily an All Star rotation, it should get the job done adequately. It should be noted that of the four, only Ervin Santana is not coming off a down-season. Tyler Duffey and/or prospects Stephen Gonsalves and Adalberto Mejia can fill in. The bullpen is one big question mark, as veteran closer Glen Perkins only pitched in two games last season and will likely start this one on the disabled list. Brandon Kintzler did a nice enough job filling in for Perkins (3.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), and the Twins will have to lean heavily on him again this year. Ryan Pressly (3.70 ERA, 1.35 WHIP), Taylor Rogers (3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), and Buddy Boshers (4.25 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) performed adequately last season, but the addition of Matt Belisle (1.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP for Nationals) is a big, badly needed boost. Potential surprise breakout candidates in the 'pen include J.T. Chargois, Jake Reed, and the sidearming Trevor Hildenberger. Overall, the synopsis is very similar to the White Sox; they have the veteran core of Mauer, Dozier, Santana, Perkins, and Hughes, but the much of this team is under 25 and that means they can go in any number of directions. The big three of Buxton, Sano, and Berrios could all break out, some could break out, or they could all struggle. So goes the story with 22 and 23 year olds.