AL Central: Minnesota Twins

Minnesota, through good defense and pitching, won the AL Central every season from 2002 to 2004. However, the team struggled in 2005, finishing a disappointing 83-79, in third place. The Twins made some additions in the offseason, but they won't be enough to get them out of third in the division.

Lineup: The Twins have never won by the home run (last 30 home run Twin was Tom Brunansky), but judging by the aging veterans they brought in, they want to change that. Torii Hunter anchors the lineup, and surrounding him will likely be Joe Mauer, who is one of the best young players in baseball, and two 2005 disappointments, Justin Morneau and Lew Ford. Free agent acquisitions Rondell White and Tony Batista bring power to the lineup, but neither is a sure thing. White has an injury history, and reports say Batista was fat and disinterested last season, when he played in Japan. Nonetheless, in his last season in the majors, Batista hit 32 homers, which the Twins would love for him to do again in 2006. The best move Minnesota made this offseason came courtesy of the Marlins fire sale. Luis Castillo had a .391 OBP last year and has won three straight Gold Gloves at second base. Castillo will be an excellent table setter for Minnesota, even though his stolen base numbers have steadily decreased. Steady left fielder Shannon Stewart will likely bat second. The Twins biggest weakness is at shortstop, where projected starter Jason Barlett had an OPS under .650. Nick Punto may see playing time at that position. Micheal Cuddyer will shift to the bench to make room for Batista, but he could still see significant playing time if an outfielder goes down, because White would have to vacate the DH spot. The lineup was terrible last season because Hunter, Morneau, Stewart, and Ford had down years. If they can bounce back, it won't be a weakness, but nothing is for certain.

Starting Pitching: The Twins have the best starter in the American League in Johan Santana. No one else in the rotation comes close to matching him, but positions 2-4 are held by competent pitchers. Brad Radke has been a staple in Minnesota rotations for many years now, and at 33, may still have some good years left in him. Carlos Silva impressed many last season with a 3.44 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, which are good for a third starter. Kyle Lohse has never posted an ERA under 4.18 or a WHIP under 1.27, but he'll get the job done as a fourth starter. Scott Baker pitched well as a rookie last year, and appears to have won the fifth spot in the rotation. While he probably won't repeat his 3.35 ERA, he should be a quality fifth starter. Minnesota's rotation isn't what it once was, and if the offense doesn't improve, the starters aren't going to carry the team to the playoffs.

Bullpen: Joe Nathan has shown himself to be an excellent closer. The Twins definitely won the A.J. Pierzynski trade. Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain will provide a very stable to Nathan, both of them pitched over 75 innings last year with ERA's under 2.75. Matt Guerrier, in his first full season, pitched well, and looks to be a reliable middle relief man. The rest of the bullpen is more suspect, however. J.C. Romero was traded over the offseason, and Terry Mulholland was lost to the Diamondbacks via free agency. The Twins will fill out their bullpen through youngsters and minor league contract free agent signees such as Dennys Reyes, Darrell May, and Gabe White. Minnesota needs their core relievers to stay healthy and effective. The late innings are set, the only question is how the club will get there.

X Factor: Torii Hunter. Hurt last year, Hunter's numbers fell across the board. The Twins need him to be healthy, patrolling center field and anchoring their lineup.

Biggest Strength/Weakness: Late innings bullpen/Pitching depth

Projection: 3rd place in the AL Central.

Win Range: 82-87