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FOR STARTERS, THE STARTERS
Let’s start with the starting pitching as that is obviously where the Twins have spent the most money and where they have the biggest need for improvement. These first three are locked up for at least the next three seasons.
Hughes was one of baseball’s best starting pitchers in 2014. Terry Ryan not only spoke on Monday of his work on the mound, but he likes his youth and his makeup as well. Enough to essentially tear up the two years and $16 million he had left on his contract and give him a new five year, $58 million contract. While those are big numbers, the 28-year-old could have made much more than that had he been a free agent this offseason.
Less than two weeks ago, the Twins signed Ervin Santana to a four year deal that includes an option for 2019. He just turned 32, but he has been solid MLB pitcher for a decade, many of those years in the American League.
Last offseason, the Twins made a huge splash in free agency with the acquisition of free agent starter Ricky Nolasco. He had a rough 2014 season, but he has enough of a track record to believe that he will be better in 2015. The Twins and their fans hope so as he is signed through the 2017 season with an option for 2018.
Mike Pelfrey is also back for 2015, though he may be best suited for the bullpen at this point. Tommy Milone is first-year arbitration-eligible this year and could make up to $2.8 million.
The others on this list will be under team control for at least the next five years. Kyle Gibson had a decent first full season in the big leagues and looks to improve under the tutelage of new pitching coach Neil Allen. Trevor May had some control problems in his MLB debut late last year, but he overcame that and was much better. Alex Meyer and Jason Wheeler are starters who were added to the Twins 40-man roster last month and could get an opportunity in 2015 and beyond. JO Berrios had a breakout season in the minor leagues. Meanwhile, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Duffey will come to big league camp this year too, looking to make a good impression after their strong 2014 seasons.
SUMMARY: Hughes was ace-like in 2014. Hopefully he can maintain some of that form and Santana and Nolasco will be able to earn their contracts the next few seasons. The success of the Twins in the future, however, will very much be dependent upon this next wave of internal, minor league options. At least a couple of them will need to advance to the Twins in the near future and show what they are made of. Then the next wave, which includes the likes of Kohl Stewart, Lewis Thorpe and Stephen Gonsalves can come in after that.
THE BULLPEN
Glen Perkins signed a contract extension last spring training that keeps him in Minnesota for the next three years, with an option for a fourth. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, and the terms of his contract make it bearable even if he isn’t the closer.
Brian Duensing’s in his final year of arbitration. Casey Fien is in his first. There are young guys like Caleb Thielbar, Ryan Pressly, Logan Darnell and Michael Tonkin who have seen big league time and could be part of the future. Meanwhile, the Twins have stockpiled many hard-throwers in the draft the last three years and some of those guys could surface in 2015. That list is headlined by 2014 2nd round pick Nick Burdi, but it also includes Zack Jones, Jake Reed, JT Chargois (after missing two seasons, he was hitting 99 in instructs), Mason Melotakis (who will likely miss much of 2015 after Tommy John surgery), Todd Van Steensel and several others. Of course, minor league starters often become big league relievers and can be very successful in that role.
THE HITTERS
Let’s start behind the plate where Kurt Suzuki is locked up for the next two years, with a third-year option. I don’t know that I’d expect him to be an All-Star, but he is a solid backstop. Josmil Pinto may never be great behind the plate, but his bat should make him an option for the backup role.
In time, the favorite to be the next starting catcher for the Twins is likely Stuart Turner who spent 2014 in Ft. Myers. However, don’t think that Mitch Garver can’t eventually take that title and that job as well.
Joe Mauer is signed for four more years, through the 2018 season. He will be the team’s first baseman. Kennys Vargas, if needed, can play there as well though DH is his best role (same with Pinto).
Brian Dozier is under team control for another four seasons. One year away from arbitration, Dozier is a candidate for an extension this offseason or next. In a league with names like Cano, Pedroia, Zobrist, Kinsler and Altuve, Dozier was nearly an All-Star in 2014 and will hopefully continue to improve.
Trevor Plouffe put together his best season in 2014, both offensively and defensively. He enters his second (of four) arbitration season. He is an extension candidate, though there is the looming presence of Miguel Sano lurking, as it was last year. Sano missed the 2014 season after Tommy John surgery. He will need to shake off some rust in spring training and likely starting in AA, but if he can do that, the sky is the limit for him. Will he move Plouffe out of the hot corner, or could it be the Sano is the one to switch positions? That will be a fun story to follow in 2015.
Eduardo Escobar put up numbers, offensively and defensively, in 2014 that should give him the opening day shortstop job. However, that job at this point is being pushed toward Danny Santana, with Escobar likely in a utility role. Santana was terrific with the bat in 2014, his rookie season, and didn’t embarrass himself in center field, a position he had played about 20 times in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Jorge Polanco is also in the shortstop picture and should spend much of the 2015 season in Chattanooga. He also is an option at second base. Nick Gordon is just 19 and likely will spend the full season in Cedar Rapids.
Oswaldo Arcia is making room for Torii Hunter (who is on a one-year contract) by moving from right field to left field. That is going to be scary defensively. I’m still holding out hope that in spring training they’ll decide that Hunter should try left field and keep Arcia in right. Neither is really a good option for Twins pitchers. Fortunately, both have something in their bats. Hunter can fit in the lineup anywhere and be productive. Arcia, despite his struggles against left-handers and avoiding strikeouts, has so much power potential that it is scary. He could take off in 2015.
Center field remains the question. Aaron Hicks has been the opening day starter the last two years, and that hasn’t gone real well. That said, he plays solid defense and he has an ability to get on base at a good clip. Jordan Schafer appears a lock for the opening day roster, but will it be as the everyday centerfielder, in a platoon split with Hicks, or as the fourth outfielder? If Hicks begins the season in Rochester, minor league signee Shane Robinson has the ability to be a platoon option in centerfield. His game is similar to Schafer’s:speed and defense. Defense will be a key in center since there won’t be a lot of range in the corners. Of course, the possibility exists that Danny Santana could spend another season in center field with Escobar at shortstop.
Eddie Rosario had a tough 2014, but redeemed himself with a strong showing in the 7-week Arizona Fall League. He could start at AA or AAA. He’ll need to work on his plate discipline, but he may not be far off. Byron Buxton will be at big league camp again in 2015 after a lost 2014 season. It was one injury after another for one of baseball’s best prospects. Again, he will likely need to shake off some rust in Chattanooga to start the season, but a quick start could mean a quick promotion if he’s ready. Adam Walker, Max Kepler and Travis Harrison should all get to AA in 2015, each filled with promise.
The major league coaching staff will have a new look in 2015, and new minor league coaching assignments have been given as well. Seemingly, the only thing the Twins need to yet decide is who their new minor league hitting coordinator will be.
The holidays are upon us. We certainly want to thank all of the Twins Daily readers and commenters for a fun 2014 season on the site. Hopefully 2015 will bring us many more positive things to discuss on these pages.
The Twins Caravan is just three weeks away. Twins Fest is just a month from now. And then in mid-February, the players will start their treks down to Ft. Myers for spring training. It really isn’t that far away. We’ll all just try to stay warm in the Hot Stove a little longer!
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