A promising stable of starting pitchers helped propel the Twins within one victory of the playoffs in 2008, and that staff gives Smith an enviable advantage as teams begin to reshape their rosters for 2009. Practically alone among the major leagues' general managers, Smith is not searching for starting pitching.

The quartet of Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn and Glen Perkins all provided either 11 or 12 victories last season, and each owned an ERA below 4.50. Francisco Liriano joined the group in August and went 6-1 the rest of the way. None is older than 27, none is even eligible for arbitration yet (making them cheap as well as effective), and all are projected to pitch even better next season.

The luxury of a settled rotation -- and the depth provided by another handful of pitchers who may be major league-ready -- gives Smith an opportunity to be aggressive in trading for upgrades to his team's offense or its bullpen. The Twins finished third in the American League in scoring but were last in home runs, while the relief corps wore down in late August and September.

Philip Humber (6-1 after the All-Star break in Class AAA last season), Kevin Mulvey (4-1 in Class AAA after the break) and Anthony Swarzak (5-0 after being called up to Class AAA in midseason) are all close to being ready to pitch in the major leagues. The Twins could use one of those three pitchers to swing a deal for more offense. Or they could deal a member of their current rotation and move one of those youngsters up to Minnesota.

That depth at such an important position gives the Twins the same opportunity they had last winter, when they made young right-hander Matt Garza the centerpiece of a deal with Tampa Bay that brought them outfielder Delmon Young.