2024 Pre-Season Profile: Minnesota Twins

 #22

The Minnesota Twins went through some cost cutting this off-season.  Will the result still bring about wins in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#21 - 3rd in AL Central

MIH - Byron Buxton

MIP - Kenta Maeda

PTW - Simeon Woods Richardson

FP - Byron Buxton plays more games in 2023 than Carlos Correa.

2023 Results

#10 - 87-75, 1st in AL Central, lost in ALDS

Highest WAR (Position) - Ryan Jeffers

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Sonny Gray

The AL Central is always up for grabs, and the Twins went out and took it in 2023.  They did this with only half a season from their most talented player in Byron Buxton.  Their pitching carried them.  Their rotation pitched well enough that the lineup just needed to score enough.  It was good enough for a division championship and a playoff run.

Additions / Subtractions

The Twins were active this off-season moving payroll around and saving money.  Gone are Jorge Polanco, Joey Gallo, Michael A. Taylor, Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Emilio Pagan, and Jorge Lopez.  Coming to the Twins in their place are Carlos Santana, Chris Paddack, Anthony DeSclafani, and Justin Topa.  The subtraction list is much more impressive than the addition list.

Most Important Hitter

Edouard Julien

One of the breakout stars for the Twins in 2023 was Edouard Julien at second base.  All he did was hit, gathering a 130 ERA+ with a .263 average, 16 homers in just 109 games.  Entering only his age 25 season, the Twins felt good enough about Julien to trade away their All Star second baseman in Jorge Polanco.  Now Julien has to show that 2023 was the start of something great instead of a fluky flash to start his career.

Most Important Pitcher

Pablo Lopez

With Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda moving on, Pablo Lopez is now the true ace of the Twins.  Coming off a solid season with a 117 ERA+, Lopez has become a trendy dark horse pick for the Cy Young in 2024.  With the loss of depth in their rotation, the Twins need Lopez to be that good to anchor that rotation.  Otherwise, the team will need to score a lot more than last season.

Prospect to Watch

Brooks Lee

If the Twins need to score in 2024, Brooks Lee might be a major factor in doing so.  Sporting the 15th best farm system in baseball, the Twins have four prospects in the Top 100, and Lee is the one most likely to impact the team this season.  Ranked the 18th best prospect in baseball, and the 2nd best prospect in the system, Brooks Lee is a 23 year old switch hitting shortstop that just knows how to hit.  A first round pick in 2022, Lee looks to have an impact at some point in 2024 for the big league club.

2024 Prediction

4th in AL Central

The AL Central is as unpredictable of a division as I have seen in awhile.  While the AL East has 4 elite teams and one good team, the AL Central has 4 average teams and one bad team.  Anything can happen.  With the steps back due to payroll the Twins took, I see them taking a step back, however never count out the Twins.  They will always be interesting.

Fearless Prediction

Half the Twins Opening Day lineup will be traded before the start of 2025.

The Twins tried to reset some payroll this off-season while still competing.  If they struggle like I think they might, there could be a full reset in order.  Names like Max Kepler and Alex Kirilloff were already on the trade block leading into this season, and Carlos Santana is a perennial Trade Deadline acquisition.  Do they finally give up on Byron Buxton?  Does Royce Lewis become expendable to make room for Brooks Lee?  Does Carlos Correa?  The Twins could become very interesting next off-season.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Kansas City Royals

 #24

The Kansas City Royals had one of the more aggressive offseasons, making several surprising splashes.  Will that work lead to success in 2021?

2020 Predictions

#25 - 4th in AL Central

MIH - Salvador Perez

MIP - Brad Keller

PTW - Brady Singer

FP - Jorge Soler will hit less than 24 home runs in 2020.

2020 Results

#24 - 26-34, 4th in AL Central

The Royals had some moderate success in 2020, but their talent level just couldn't carry them very far.  I had their season well predicted though.  Their two best players in terms of WAR were Salvador Perez and Brad Keller.  Third on that list was rookie Brady Singer.  Jorge Soler came out of the clouds of his home run title in 2019 and only hit 8 home runs in the shortened year.  It seemed like their season was fairly predictable.

Additions / Subtractions

The Royals decided this offseason that waiting for the next Hosmer/Gordon/Perez/Moustakas/Cain core to come out of their farm system wasn't worth being mediocre anymore.  So they went out and spent a little money.  They brought in Carlos Santana to play first base.  They signed Mike Minor to round out the rotation.  they signed Michael A. Taylor to play centerfield.  Possibly the biggest move of the offseason they had was trading for Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox to replace the retiring Alex Gordon.  No one can claim the Royals are tanking after what they did this winter.

Most Important Hitter

Jorge Soler

Even with all the new pieces coming into the roster, the heart of the order will still revolve around their big slugger.  Jorge Soler broke out in 2019 with 48 homers.  Although he wasn't bad in 2020, it was not up to the level of that career year.  With bats like Santana and Benintendi giving him protection in the lineup, he has every opportunity to bounce back in 2021.  If he does, this could be a potent offense.

Most Important Pitcher

Josh Staumont

The Royals appear to have a pretty solid rotation with Brad Keller, Mike Minor, Danny Duffy, and phenom Brady Singer leading the way.  The hole appears to be the bullpen that doesn't have a clear arm to anchor the back half of the game.  Josh Staumont is a young arm that had some success in 2020.  They need him, or an arm similar to him, to emerge as an elite reliever to lead the way.

Prospect to Watch

Bobby Witt Jr.

By far, the top prospect in the Royals' system is shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.  The second pick in the 2019 draft, Witt is currently ranked as the 7th best prospect in all of baseball.  Making his debut in 2021 might be a little bit of a stretch, but he has the skill and raw talent to make that kind of jump.

2021 Predictions

5th in AL Central

I feel like there are some definite tiers to MLB teams in 2021.  Numbers 30-25 are teams that really have no chance to make a significant impact in 2021.  The Royals start a run of teams that are probably not making the playoffs, but they have the talent to make things interesting.  I am probably underselling the Royals and what they can do in 2021 by putting them this low, but I just don't think they are quite at a point where they can climb much beyond here.  Because of the growth from some other teams in the division, that puts them in the cellar.

Fearless Prediction

The Royals will sell at least two starting pitchers before the Trade Deadline.

If the Royals are truly this far out of contention, they should be sellers at the deadline this season.  Their lineup is so young though, that I doubt they will trade away any hitters.  Their pitching staff, however, has a few veteran arms that I could see being moved.  Mike Minor and Danny Duffy are the prime candidates to be traded.

2019 Pre-Season Profile: Cleveland Indians

#11

The Cleveland Indians have owned the AL Central over the last several years.  Will their young core of hitters and top-notch starters bring about another playoff run in 2019?

2018 Predictions

1st in AL Central, lose in ALDS

Corey Kluber will be the AL starting pitcher in the All Star Game.

2018 Results

91-71, 1st in AL Central, lost in ALDS

Yes, the Indians won 90 games, but they won the AL Central more by default being the only team to finish with a record above .500.  They have had a similar formula the last few seasons: pitch well behind Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Carrasco while scoring runs behind emerging superstars Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor.  Ramirez and Lindor almost had 8 win seasons, while Kluber (who made the All Star Team but didn't start) has a 5.8 and Bauer had a 5.7 WAR.  All this success did not lead to any postseason success as they still carry such a long championship drought.

Additions / Subtractions

The Indians had one of the more intriguing offseasons in the league.  The front office looked at the roster they had put together and started to question how sustainable their payroll would be moving forward.  They traded away slugger Edwin Encarnacion to the Mariners to bring back former Indian Carlos Santana.  They traded away catcher Yan Gomes and slugger Yonder Alonso.  They traded corner infielder Yandy Diaz to the Rays for Jake Bauers, who has much more flexibility.  Their top outfielders from a year ago, Michael Brantley and Melky Cabrera, left through free agency and really weren't replaced.  Some late minor league acquisitions that will obviously have a big league impact eventually were Hanley Ramirez and Carlos Gonzalez, but they really tried to cut salary.  They even tried to do more, with constant rumors of Kluber or Bauer being traded, but that came to no avail.

Most Important Hitter

Bradley Zimmer

One of the reasons the Indians did not work harder to find some outfielders in they believe in Bradley Zimmer.  Entering his third season in the big leagues, this 26 year old centerfielder had established himself as the everyday starter last year before he injured his shoulder and ended his season.  He is not expected to be ready by Opening Day, but he is being counted on as being a key piece of what the Indians do this year.  They need him to break out to justify their lack of movement in replacing their outfield production from a year ago.

Most Important Pitcher

Brad Hand

The Indians have one of the best rotations in baseball, but they also have been touting an elite bullpen as well.  However, over the last several seasons they have watched pieces from their World SEries bullpen slowly leave.  Bryan Shaw left via free agency before last season, and this season saw the departure of closer Cody Allen and super reliever Andrew Miller.  None of the main pieces of their World Series super bullpen of 2016 are left.  This makes Brad Hand, their new closer, extremely important.  Hand was acquired at the Trade Deadline last season from the Padres for top propect Francisco Mejia, and he showed why they paid such a big price for him.  He is an elite bullpen arm, but now he will not have the company in the bullpen the Indians are used to surrounding their closer with.  Hand cannot have a bad season if the Indians want to be great this season.

Prospect to Watch

Yu Chang

The Indians only have two prospects listed in MLB's top 100, and one of them (Triston McKenzie) might make his debut this season depending on what happens with the Indians rotation throughout the season.  However, the player most likely to make a big league impact this season is Yu Chang.  This 23 year old infielder is the Indians 6th best prospect and played his entire 2018 season in AAA to decent success.  The reason he has a chance to make a big league impact this season is the fact that second baseman Jason Kipnis, shortstop Francisco Lindor, and third baseman Jose Ramirez all will probably start the season on the injured list (formerly the disabled list).  The Indians are finding ways to fill these holes temporarily with big league names, but if some of these injuries linger and some of the big leaguers struggle, Chang will get his opportunity to prove himself and show he can be a young utility infielder behind their cast of All Stars.

2019 Prediction

2nd in AL Central

Being ranked 11th on my list means I see the Indians as the last team to miss the playoffs.  They still have all their talent, but I get the feeling this window is closing quickly.  If the Indians are talking about trading some of their All Stars in their prime because they can't afford it, this success is fleeting.  Their division also shouldn't be the pushover it was last season too.  By pure talent, the Indians have to be in the conversation, but combine injuries with potential disgruntled aces and this could be the beginning of the end for this Indians run.

Fearless Prediction

This will be Francisco Lindor's last full season in Cleveland.

Lindor is entering his age 25 season and is already a 3 time All Star.  He is one of the best emerging young superstars in the game.  When he hits the free agent market after the 2021 season, he will be looking to get a contract similar to Machado, Harper, Arenado, or even Trout.  If this offseason showed anything, the Indians will not be able to afford that.  That means Lindor's time in Cleveland has an expiration date.  If he is not a long-term Indian, they might want to maximize his value on the trade market.  Especially if they miss the playoffs this season, the Indians might realize they need to move on from their current core sooner rather than later.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians had a good deal of success in 2014 even if it didn't lead them to the playoffs.  Will Terry Francona continue to lead the Tribe in these winning ways in 2015?

Last Season

85-77, 3rd in AL Central

The Indians were able to follow up their improbable run to the Wild Card in 2013 with another improbable winning season.  Although they were beaten out by Detroit and the eventual AL champ Royals in the Central, the season was a definite success.  Michael Brantley announced his presence as one of the top young hitters in the game, and Corey Kluber rode a ridiculous second half of the season to a Cy Young Award.  Even with down years from the likes of Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, and Jason Kipnis, the Tribe finished with a winning record and only a few games away from repeating a Wild Card run.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

The primary subtractions heading into 2015 for the Indians took place at the Trade Deadline in 2014, when they dealt away Asdrubal Cabrera and Justin Masterson.  They really didn't lose anyone else from their roster besides clubhouse mentor Jason Giambi.  Coming to the Tribe in 2015 is Brandon Moss from Oakland, who will add lineup depth with his consistent bat in rightfield.

Most Important Hitter

Jason Kipnis

Jason Kipnis experienced a breakout year in 2013, making the All Star team and helping anchor a lineup that went to the playoffs.  In 2014, he came back down to earth, tallying career lows in batting average (.240) and home runs (6).  If the Indians want to find themselves back in the playoffs in 2014, Jason Kipnis needs to get back on track and return to his All Star form.  With young talent in the middle infield coming up through the farm system, look for Kipnis to be expendable if he doesn't produce.

Most Important Pitcher

Corey Kluber

In only his second full season in the big leagues, Corey Kluber came out of nowhere to become one of, if not the, most dominant pitcher in the American League.  He had career highs in wins (18), strikeouts (269), ERA (2.44), and had a 7.4 WAR as a starting pitcher.  No wonder he won the Cy Young as he almost single-handedly kept the Indians in the playoff hunt.  The question surrounding Kluber going into 2015 is can he repeat that performance.  His 34 starts last year bested his previous high by 10, and his 235.2 innings pitched was the first time he pitched over 150 innings in the big leagues.  Yes, his numbers were outrageous in 2014, but could an unprecedented work load on his arm lead his performance to be an anomaly?  Considering how quickly his inning count spiked and how his numbers spiked (his ERA dropped by almost a run and a half from 2013 to 2014), it wouldn't be unfathomable to think that Kluber will have a down year in 2015.  The problem is the Indians need him to be the dominant Cy Young winning anchor of their staff to have another shot at the playoffs.  I see a stint on the DL more likely than a repeat of that level of dominance.

Player to Watch

Francisco Lindor

Some people wondered why the Indians were so willing to part ways with their longtime shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in 2014.  Those that knew the Indians organization knew exactly why they traded him, and his name is Francisco Lindor.  Ranked as the #1 prospect in the Indians farm system and #4 on MLB.com's Top 100, this 21 year old shortstop is a future superstar that the Tribe had to clear a path for.  Although he will not start this season on the major league roster, watch for him to burst on the scene at some point this year.  The timing is going to depend on the success of the current big league middle infielders (Jason Kipnis and Jose Ramirez).

Prediction

4th in AL Central

I always seem to underestimate the Indians.  Every year, they over-perform and surprise the league.  This is a huge testament to their manager, Terry Francona.  However, there are just too many question marks heading into 2015 to see them repeating the success of the last few years.  Can Corey Kluber duplicate his Cy Young season?  Can Michael Brantley pick up where he left off last season?  Can Michael Bourn return to being the lead-off hitter he is being paid to be?  Can Jason Kipnis return to his All Star form?  Does Nick Swisher have one more solid season in him?  Can a no-name bullpen finish games?  For them to make a playoff run, all of those questions have to be answered with a resounding yes, which is unlikely.  In a division that keeps getting more and more competitive every season, I see the Indians taking a step back in 2015.  With that said, knowing that it's Terry Francona's team, don't be surprised if I am wrong.