5 Bold Twins Predictions for 2022

I may be in the minority, but I do not want to see Max traded.  I want to see him in right field for the Twins every day.

I don't want to see Kepler traded either.  However it would depend what Twins got for him.  The bold predictions are very interesting and all possible.  I think if we add a decent starting pitcher we become a viable contender.  Our current starting staff is very questionable and won't get us into the playoffs.  

Like many, I predict the Twins to win the World Series this year just like i do every year. I wish the snow and ice would melt too.

Defense is important and fun to watch and fans should enjoy the improved play up the middle this year. Alex Kirilloff does belong at first base instead of in the outfield.

Maeda making a late September return in relief could boost the bullpen.

There are plenty of reasons that both Buxton and Correa could have MVP type seasons this summer and I am looking forward to their playing at least 145 games.

Max Kepler can be frustrating to watch when he hits ground balls to second. However, Max is also one of only three competent outfielders on the team and Nick Gordon doesn't project to start most of the time. Rooker and Larnach are ok to hide in the outfield occasionally but are better fits at DH. So until Austin Martin and/or Royce Lewis, both quite athletic, are converted to the outfield the Twins need Kepler.

A couple of July trades are possible and I'm high on Josh Winder right now. The Twins have a shot if everything goes right. It is gray outside right now, the ground is covered in snow, and more is falling (lightly), so I'm forced to believe the Twins are going to be good enough to win 87 games this year. 

Love that photo of Buxton, Cody, he's so focused and having his other hand ready to cover the ball. OFers now days get a little sloppy on defense, Buxton doesn't. I'm with you that Buxton & Correa will both be healthy and compete for the MVP and be Gold Glovers but I'd also like to add Polanco to that list.

Roger, I too would hate to see Kepler go. I think he's better suited in LF where he's needed. I hope he adjust his swing and start getting hits, otherwise in RF the demand for a glove is less and Kiriloff or Larnach could man there. Maeda should be back at the of the season but by the time he gets back in shape he'll be a nonfactor.

I also predict the Twins could win their division, finally win a post season game and the rotation could pleasantly surprise a lot of people, But these predictions are conditional based on

#1 how strong the long relief is and how well they are managed, A strong long relief could keep the rotation and short relief strong and fresh throughout the season. How to do this? Have a large body of pitchers in this role having them rotating in & out playing the hot hands and be quick to put them in,

#2 have a MLB proven CFer to back up Buxton. We have lost too many games gambling on the health of Buxton and misevaluating the gap that we have there. Solutions? Best solution is to trade for 1  or next sign a FA. Waiting to see if Celestino and or Martin take the next step, Gordon has done very well adapting to the OF, I like how he has progressed in his hitting and fielding but here we can't underestimate experience.

These 2 conditions IMO are main reasons the Twins haven't progressed to or in the post season for these many years.

In contrast, TB don't even come close to have the line up that we have but what makes them competitors is that they have a strong & deep middle fielders and they have a strong long relief corp to keep their rotation & short relief fresh & strong.

I'll go with 5 and 4. Wouldn't bet the farm on the rest.

I can appreciate the bold takes here, but this team won't sniff the postseason as currently constructed. I just don't see them piecing together this bullpen and rotation enough to have any sustained success. I'd like for them to prove me wrong, but it's unlikely.

This could be the magical World Series season if it all falls into place, which definitely is possible. The pieces are all there for that to happen, but I'm not holding my breath. Realistically, I would consider this season a success if two things happen: The Twins win a playoff game and kill that 20 year monkey that has been on their back and Correa decides to stay for next year. This would set them up for an actual WS run in a couple seasons.

3 minutes ago, snyder said:

Correa decides to stay for next year. This would set them up for an actual WS run in a couple seasons.

Correa stays if he is injured too often this year. If he is his usual self, Correa goes back to free agency without the qualifying offer and in a smaller crop of shortstops. I hope the Twins win the division. If they are not projected to win, and even if they are, Correa will very likely be traded in late July for prospects.

Twins will win both series against New York Yankees; the one in New York when in honor of Arraez, Donaldson throws the ball into right field to give the Twins the win.

It's going to be a long season. The team is not looking good especially the pitching.

The one prediction that kind of made my eyebrows perk up was the Kepler prediction.  I was a little confused by the belief that "outfield depth is one of Minnesota's strengths", but I can only assume that depth is a relative concept.  A team that cannot name a starting left fielder or decide on a 4th outfielder doesn't strike me as a team deep in outfield depth, but that is just me.  Larnach is in AAA along with Celestino, Rooker was traded rather than join them in St. Paul, and Kirilloff grades out better at 1st base than outfield, and that may be his future here.  After Buck and Kepler, I don't see major league ready players, and right now that means Garlick, so we may have depth in quantity, but how about quality?  And we want to trade a very good defensive right fielder that is under team control through '24?   I guess Cody has more long term faith in our depth than maybe I give them credit for.  Let's hope he is right, because we are going to need them.