MINNESOTA TWINS

2005 finish: 83-79, 3^rd place in AL Central

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (5^th season)

Incoming: 2B Luis Castillo, DH/OF Rondell White, 3B Tony Batista, DH Ruben Sierra, LHP Denys Reyes, LHP Gabe White, LHP Darrell May, C/1B Shawn Wooten

Outgoing: OF Jacque Jones, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Joe Mays, LHP Terry Mulholland, RHP Grant Balfour

Rotation: LHP Johan Santana, RHP Brad Radke, RHP Carlos Silva, RHP Kyle Lohse, RHP Scott Baker or LHP Francisco Liriano

Relievers: Closer: RHP Joe Nathan; Setup men: RHP Juan Rincon, RHP Jesse Crain, RHP Matt Guerrier, LHP Darrell May, LHP Denys Reyes

Regulars: LF Shannon Stewart, 2B Luis Castillo, C Joe Mauer, CF Torii Hunter, 1B Justin Morneau, DH Rondell White, 3B Tony Batista, RF Lew Ford, SS Jason Bartlett 

Role players: C Mike Redmond, IF Juan Castro, IF Nick Punto, IF Terry Tiffee, IF/OF Michael Cuddyer, OF Jason Kubel, DH/OF Ruben Sierra, IF Luis Rodriguez

The pressure is on: Kyle Lohse has underachieved with back-to-back 9-13 seasons in which he has failed to reach the 200-inning mark. A frequent mention in trade talks, he could end up elsewhere if this season turns out like the last two.

Breakout candidate: It’s time for Joe Mauer to take that next step to the All-Star level.

Rundown: The Twins couldn’t make it four division titles in a row, and aren’t likely to win one this year, either. The question is, will they enter a period of mediocrity that their mid-$50-million payroll suggests, or can they get back to their overachieving, fundamentally sound ways, and contend for a wild card spot this season? Looking at their off-season moves, you could think the former appears more likely. Luis Castillo, Gold Glover and .300 hitter, was a nice pickup even though he doesn’t run much anymore. But beyond him, these were not your typical Twins-type acquisitions, other than the fact that they came cheaply: Rondell White always could hit, but he’s so injury prone that at 34, you have to wonder how much they will get from him, even as a designated hitter. Tony Batista is something of an unknown commodity after a decent season in Japan following a five-year big-league run in which he averaged 32 homers and 99 RBI. But considering their dire need for power and all the problems they’ve had at third base, he was a gamble worth taking. Ruben Sierra is 40 and a liability in the field, limiting him to designated hitting and pinch hitting – if he even makes the club. They had a chance at reacquiring Corey Koskie, and the Blue Jays even were willing to pay a big chunk of his salary, but payroll constraints played a factor, and they declined. The payroll should rise a little from the $56-million mark, but four players – Torii Hunter ($10.75 million), Johan Santana ($9 million), Brad Radke ($9 million) and Shannon Stewart ($6.5 million) -- will make $35.25 million, or about 60 percent of it, and that kind of top-heavy distribution isn’t a good thing. Hunter, Radke and Stewart are in the final year of guaranteed deals, so there is the possibility of at least one of them being dealt if the Twins aren’t in contention by July 31. Fortunately for Ron Gardenhire and his pitchers, there is reason to think there will be improvement from within to help an offense that finished dead last in the league in runs scored with 688 last season -- or 228 fewer than the league-leading Red Sox. Hunter played only 98 games due to a broken ankle, and despite some spring soreness, is expected to be fully recovered. Joe Mauer answered some questions about his knees by playing 131 games and hitting .294 with nine homers and 55 RBI. Those numbers should improve, as he still is only 23. There is less certainty about Justin Morneau’s development into a consistent middle-of-the-lineup power threat, as he hit only .239 to go with 22 homers and 79 RBI. But like Mauer, with another year of experience, Morneau, 25, should get better. And another year should help shortstop Jason Bartlett settle in at the big-league level. But Jacque Jones is gone, taking 23 homers out of the lineup. Maybe Jason Kubel can bounce back from missing the entire 2005 season to provide some corner-outfield production, but he figures to start the season at Triple-A. The staff has far fewer weaknesses and question marks, as Santana, Radke, Carlos Silva and Kyle Lohse are set in the rotation, and Joe Nathan, Juan Rincon (coming off minor elbow surgery) and Jesse Crain will be the late-inning trio again. Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano are promising power arms either for the No. 5 or in middle relief. But with the trade of J.C. Romero, there is no proven left-hander in the pen at this point. Overall, the final results shouldn’t be much difference from a year ago.

Predicted finish: 3^rd place, 82-80

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