A year after doing a near-total overhaul of their roster, and obsessing for four months over a Johan Santana trade, the Twins enter the offseason with far less work to do on a team that nearly won the AL Central. The rotation, and perhaps as many as eight spots in the lineup, could carry over intact into 2009, making this winter perhaps one of the quietest in years.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Twins enjoy playing small ball, but they could use some additional power in the 5-6-7 spots to give them a few more easy runs. Third base is the most obvious place to add a few home runs; five players tried the position, and Brendan Harris and Brian Buscher finished the season in a platoon at the spot, but Minnesota got a mere six homers at third. The bullpen needs to be beefed up as well, particularly since LHP Dennys Reyes figures to leave and RHP Pat Neshek will miss the entire season after elbow surgery. FREE AGENTS: LHP Dennys Reyes, LHP Eddie Guardado, INF Nick Punto, SS Adam Everett.
Everett and Guardado will leave after playing only bit parts this season. Punto would like to stay, and he probably will, especially since he's the incumbent at shortstop. Reyes will seek a big raise from his $1 million salary, and after posting a 2.33 ERA, the Twins suspect they will be outbid.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Matt Guerrier, DH Jason Kubel.
Both players had up-and-down seasons and figure to reach agreements fairly easily. The Twins will consider a long-term deal for Kubel, who hit a career-high 20 home runs.
IN LIMBO: RHP Boof Bonser, RHP Philip Humber, LF Delmon Young, RF Michael Cuddyer.
Bonser lost his spot in the rotation and doesn't enjoy the bullpen, and Humber is out of options with no openings available for starting pitchers. The Twins will likely determine their futures before training camp. Young and Cuddyer probably will stay, but Minnesota has a logjam of four outfielders and could use one of them as bait to add a third baseman or relief help.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Pat Neshek, who missed most of the 2008 season because of a torn elbow ligament, re-injured the elbow in a November throwing session. He had Tommy John surgery on Nov. 18, and he will miss the entire 2009 season.
