Starting Lineup: four year prediction w/stats

2014

1.) CF Alex Presley, 28, left, .275, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 25 SB

2.) 2B Brian Dozier, 26, right, .260, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 18 SB

3.) 1B Joe Mauer, 30, left, .310, 16 HR, 82 RBI, 9 SB

4.) DH Josh Willingham, 35, right , .235, 24 HR, 79 RBI, 0 SB

5.) LF Oswaldo Arcia, 22, left, .260, 26 HR, 80 RBI, 5 SB

6.) 3B Trevor Plouffe, 27, right, .270, 18 HR, 65 RBI

7.) RF Jason Kubel, 31, left, .250, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 0 SB

8.) C Kurt Suzuki, 30, right, .240, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 0 SB

9.) SS Pedro Florimon, 27, switch, .255, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 12 SB

Prediction: Expect a power surge from Oswaldo Arcia, and battle between Chris Parmelee, Chris Colabello and Jason Kubel in right field. Aaron Hicks will rebound, having a respectable AAA season and returning to the Twins later in the year.

2015

1.) CF Byron Buxton, 21, right, .270, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 40 SB

2.) 2B Brian Dozier, 27, right, .280, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 18 SB

3.) 1B Joe Mauer, 31, left, .330, 15 HR, 90 RBI, 9 SB

4.) 3B Miguel Sano, 21, right, .240, 23 HR, 85 RBI, 0 SB

5.) LF Oswaldo Arcia, 23, left, .285, 28 HR, 78 RBI, 0 SB

6.) DH Chris Colabello, 31, right, .270, 21 HR, 74 RBI

7.) C Josmil Pinto, 24, right, .280, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 0 SB

8.) RF Aaron Hicks, 24, right, .250, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 22 SB

9) SS Danny Santana, 24, switch, .265, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 18 SB

Prediction: Top prospects, Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano bring life and excitement to the lineup. Danny Santana could nudge Florimon out of the shortstop position. Speed and power numbers begin to spike, while a speedy outfield lowers team ERA.

2016

1.) CF Byron Buxton, 22, right, .305, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 55 SB

2.) RF Aaron Hicks, 25, right, .270, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 23 SB

3.) 1B Joe Mauer, 32, left, .290, 18 HR, 90 RBI, 6 SB

4.) 3B Miguel Sano, 22, right, .265, 35 HR, 105 RBI

5.) LF Oswaldo Arcia, 24, left, .270, 30 HR, 95 RBI

6.) DH Kennys Vargas, 25, switch, .272, 18 HR, 72 RBI

7.) C Josmil Pino, 25, right, .290,15 HR, 65 RBI, O SB

8.) 2B Brian Dozier, 28, right, .280, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 12 SB

9) SS Danny Santana, 25, switch, .270, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 17 SB

Prediction: The Twins could have the best young offense in baseball, with only Mauer over 30. Kennys Vargas emerges as another power hitter on a low-payroll but extremely talented team. Twins could have a full lineup hitting above .250.

2017

1.) CF Byron Buxton, 23, right, .315, 19 HR, 62 RBI, 60 SB

2.) RF Aaron Hicks, 26, right, .284, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 32 SB

3.) 1B Joe Mauer, 33, left, .315, 12 HR, 95 RBI, 6 SB

4.) 3B, Miguel Sano, 23, right, .280, 40 HR, 110 RBI

5.) LF, Oswaldo Arcia, 25, left, .290, 32 HR, 95 RBI

6.) DH Kennys Vargas, 26, S, .280, 22 HR, 85 RBI

7.) C Josmil Pino, 26, .310, 14 HR, 72 RBI

8.) 2B Jorge Polanco, 23, .260, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 6 SB

9) SS Danny Santana, 26, switch, .280, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 25 SB

Prediction: Twins will used money in 2014-2016 to sign several young stars to long-term deals. With foundation in place, Terry Ryan and/or Ron Gardenhire may both retire, paving the way for a smooth transition in leadership. Dozier could be traded at some point for young prospects.

Starting Rotation: four year prediction

2014

Ricky Nolasco, 31, right
Phil Hughes, 27, right
Mike Pelfrey, 30, right
Kevin Correia, 34, right
Sam Deduno, 30, right

Predict: Scott Diamond, Vance Worley and/or Sam Deduno will pitch out of the bullpen. Kris Johnson, Vance Worley, Kyle Gibson and/or Andrew Albers will force themselves into the rotation at some point.

2015

Ricky Nolasco, 32, right
Phil Hughes, 28, right
Mike Pelfrey, 31, right
Alex Meyer, 25, right
Kyle Gibson, 27, right

Predict: At least one spot opens up for Alex Meyer and either Kyle Gibson or a young left-hander, likely Sean Gilmartin or Logan Darnell. Alex Meyer could be ready if his arm stays healthy. Pelfrey and Hughes will have to be solid in 2014 to stay in the rotation. Twins could be willing to release or move either one to the bullpen if better options emerge.

2016

Alex Meyer, 26, right
Ricky Nolasco, 33, right
Kyle Gibson, 28, right
Phil Hughes, 29, right
Trevor May, 25, right

Predict: Hughes either stars or flops in last contract season. Meyers and May primed for full seasons. Nolasco can finally settle in as a No 2-4 starter. Team may have one or more solid left-handers that push their way into the rotation.

2017
Alex Meyer, 27, right
Kohl Stewart, 22, right
Kyle Gibson, 29, right 
Ricky Nolasco, 34, right
Trevor May, 26, right

Predict: Rotation should be solid in Nolasco's final year.  Expect at least one dark-horse starter to have stuck with the team. Scott Diamond, Vance Worley, Sam Deduno, Andrew Albers, Logan Darnell, Kris Johnson, maybe even Alex Pressley as a starter. 
 

Twins have plenty of lefthanded starters

While the Twins may open the season with five right-handed starting pitchers, they also have five competing left-handers who will be given shot to make the team with a spectacular spring training.

Scott Diamond was the Twins best starter in 2012, going 12-9 with a 3.54 ERA in 27 starts, 174 innings. In 2013, however, he started the year disabled and never really hit his stride, going 6-13 with a 5.43 ERA in 24 starts, 131 innings. At age 27, he has been been compared to Tom Glavine at times, but may suffer from overthinking on the mound.

Andrew Albers had a remarkable 2013 season, going 11-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 132.1 innings at AAA, followed by a somewhat mixed 2-5 record with 4.05 ERA in ten starts and 60 innings with one shutout for the Twins. The 28-year-old former independent league pitcher boasts pinpoint control but little velocity.

Kris Johnson, 29, acquired from the Pirates, was even better than Albers in AAA, going 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 135.2 innings. Although he had a 6.10 ERA in 10.1 brief innings for the Pirates, Johnson was noted for throwing five shutout innings in a long, terse game against the Cardinals. His stuff is said to be “a tick better,” than Diamond.

The Twins recently acquired Sean Gilmartin, 23, a former 1^st round draft pick, from the Atlanta Braves for Ryan Doumit. After blazing through the Braves’ farm system in 2011-2012, he had arm injuries in 2013. Pitching for AAA, he was 4-5 with a 5.06 ERA in 105 innings.  While he is a long spot to win a big-league spot this year, Gilmartin is the true prospect of the bunch, and could be a nice under-the-radar acquisition for the Twins.

Tucked away on the 40-man roster is 24-year-old, Logan Darnell, who had a very solid 2013 season in the upper minors. Over 153.2 innings between AA and AAA, he was 10-10 with a 3.22 ERA. Don’t be surprised to see Darnell put together a breakthrough season.

Here, the Twins have five quality left-handers that may not even make the rotation. With two legitimate prospects in Gilmartin and Darnell, the Twins have the makings of what could be a solid rotation in the future, paired with hard-throwing right-handers, Alex Meyer, Trevor May and Kohl Stewart.

Fishin' for Starting Pitching

With the 2014 baseball offseason now in it's home stretch leading up to Spring Training, the Twins have cast a wide net in search for a competent starting rotation.

So far, they have signed three big-league starting pitchers to long-term contracts: Ricky Nolasco, 31, (4-years, $49M), Phil Hughes, 27, (3-years, $24M) and Mike Pelfrey, 30, (2-year, $11M). With Kevin Correia, 33, signed for one more season at $5.5M, they have built a virtually full rotation of veterans whose contracts gradually peel away over the next four seasons.

It has been widely know that the Twins have been looking for any and all starting pitching over the past two seasons. All of the team's opening day starters faltered in 2012, and only newcomers, Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey made over 25 starts in 2013. This lack of consistent innings meant that the team gave at least eight starts to Vance Worley (7.21 ERA, 48.2 IN), Liam Hendriks (6.85 ERA, 47.1 IN), Pedro Hernandez (6.83 ERA, 56.2 IN), Kyle Gibson (6.53 ERA, 51 IN), P.J. Walters (5.95 ERA, 39.1 IN), Scott Diamond (5.43 ERA, 131 IN) and Andrew Albers (4.05 ERA, 60 IN).

The 2013 Twins were made painfully aware that they cannot trust multiple rotation spots to pitchers without a proven big-league track record. Before the season, Worley, Diamond, Hendriks, Gibson and Cole DeVries all seemed like pitchers they were ready to claim rotation spots, while Hernandez and Walters seemed like amiable spot-starters. At the very least, it felt like the Twins finally had a comfortable amount of depth in the rotation.

But just like 2012, the quality of their depth was ripped open and over-exposed.

One huge difference this offseason, however, is that the Twins are finally turning over and improving that marginal depth. Before the 2013 season, the Twins were so desperate for pitching that they retained every able-bodied starting pitcher that finished out 2012 on the team.

Now, with the signings of Nolasco, Hughes, Pelfrey and trade for Kris Johnson, 29, (2.39 ERA, 135.2 IN at AAA), the Twins have had to let go a slew of their old mainstays, Liam Hendriks, P.J. Walters, Cole DeVries and Pedro Henandez. Twins fans should cheer knowing superior talent and experienced innings are replacing these roster spots.

At this time last year, Scott Diamond, 27, and Vance Worley, 26, were thought to be the Twins' top two starting pitchers, but now both are out of options and in danger of release, trade or move to the bullpen. With Sam Deduno, 30. (3.83 ERA, 108 IN) expected to claim the fifth spot in the rotation, Diamond and Worley now must have stellar spring trainings to remain in the organization.

Having Diamond/Worley as top "fringe" rotation candidates is a lot brighter situation than the days of Walters/Hernandez/DeVries & Co.  

Liam Hendriks, 24, was a surprise release given his youth and potential, but had finally been pushed off the team's depth chart after a marginal season in the minors (4.67 ERA, 98.1 IN at AAA). Kyle Gibson (2.92 ERA, 101 IN at AAA) and Andrew Albers (2.86 ERA, 132.1 IN at AAA) and Kris Johnson (2.39 ERA, 135.2 IN at AAA) all had much superior seasons.

For the first time in years, the Twins could have several pitchers at AAA that have the talent to step in and provide quality innings at the big-league level. "Quality" as well as numbers.