Kuzul

The American League Central division sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with big market teams like the Yankees and Red Sox eating up the national sports headlines.

Still, the AL Central boasts a great deal of talent and is typically a closely-contested division until the final week of the season.

In the past five seasons, six players from the division have won American League MVP or Cy Young awards:

MVP: Joe Mauer, 2009; Justin Morneau, 2006.

Cy Young: Zack Greinke, 2009; Cliff Lee, 2008; CC Sabathia, 2007; Johan Santana, 2006.

With Opening Day rapidly approaching, here is a look at players at each position that will be vying for midseason and postseason honors.

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Baseball has been around for so many years that players are bound to be forgotten eventually. A new breed of talent always seems to find it’s way to the surface and players of yesteryear fall by the wayside.

It takes a special type of talent to remain in baseball discussions for generation after generation, and an even more special talent to end up in the Hall of Fame.

Carlos Ruiz has been an important part of the Philadelphia Phillies since joining the team in 2006. Yet his name falls by the wayside playing alongside superstars like Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay.

Ruiz isn’t alone however, as there have been many players throughout the history of this great game that haven’t gotten their fair share of credit.

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As the Minnesota Twins prepare to head down to Fort Myers for spring training, they’ll be doing so without utility infielder Nick Punto for the first time in seven years. Last week Punto signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Punto was a favorite of much of the Twins Territory faithful, and while his productivity was never much to speak of (with the exception of 2008 when he batted near .300), he still managed to make a good living in Minnesota.

Still, Punto’s productivity declined in 2009 and 2010 as he failed to reach a .240 average each season.

The lack of productivity allowed the Twins to make an easy decision in declining Punto’s $5 million option for 2011.

With Punto’s departure, the team will have to decide which of these players will fill the void. And while a few of these players will certainly be a part of the Twins’ 25-man roster, others will have to prove their worthiness in Fort Myers, Florida.

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In signing relief pitcher Rafael Soriano, the New York Yankees took a big step in shoring up their bullpen before heading south to Florida for spring training.

The team had already made a number of signings including pitcher Pedro Feliciano, pitcher Mark Prior and catcher Russell Martin.

The Yankees also retained two major free agents in agreeing to terms on multi-year deals with closer Mariano Rivera and shortstop Derek Jeter.

With the moves, the team seems poised to win another AL East crown. However off-season signings by the Boston Red Sox indicate that the team won’t be going down without a fight.

In just 25 days, pitchers and catchers of the Bronx Bombers will report to Tampa for their first workouts.

With time ticking away, there is still time for the team to bolster their pitching staff and outfield in an effort to set themselves apart from the rest of the American League.

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After much speculation on whether or not the Minnesota Twins would bring back designated hitter Jim Thome for a second season, it appears that a resolution has finally been reached.

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney is reporting that the Twins and Thome have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $3 million.

The deal is far less than some (myself included) had thought it would cost to retain Thome after his productive campaign in 2010 yielded a .283 batting average with 25 homers and 59 RBI in 276 at-bats.

With the increased interest from teams such as the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it was thought that Thome’s price would surge beyond what the Twins were willing to offer the 40 year old.

Thome did achieve a certain bond with his new team in 2010, emerging as a clubhouse leader and mentor to many of the young Twins.

The deal comes amidst news that the team has also shown interest in free agent Manny Ramirez. With this move it appears that the team will pass on Ramirez. However, there is still speculation that the team would like to have a powerful right-handed bat available and may still consider additional options.

The most obvious next step for the Twins would be to agree to terms with free agent pitcher Carl Pavano, whom the team has been in talks with for months.

It was anticipated that a deal for Pavano would have been completed by now, but with the emergence of interest in Thome from other teams, it appears that the Twins were forced to divert attention towards locking down their slugger for another year.

The deal comes as welcomed news to Twins fans, who have been forced to wonder whether or not the team would be making moves to keep pace with the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers, as both teams have spent much of the offseason revamping their lineups in an effort to overtake the Twins for the AL Central crown in 2011.

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The major league closer is a position that is hard to fill for many teams. Pitchers are often given opportunities to be the guy in the late innings, but rarely do we find closers that can truly be considered “dominant.”

Trevor Hoffman has to be considered in discussions of the best closer of all time. His 601 career saves rank first all time, and his 1,035 games pitched are an attribute to his longevity.

As we honor the spectacular career one of baseball’s all time greats, let’s take a look at the elite list of dominating closers that Hoffman finds himself in.

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Before the 2010 season began, the Minnesota Twins took a conservative approach when signing Jim Thome to a one year $1.5 million contract. After all, it would be hard to conceive a scenario where a team would pay anywhere near the $13 million that Thome was paid in 2009.

Thome would outperform his contract by leaps and bounds in 2010 as the slugger batted .283, slugged .627 and hit 25 home runs while driving in 59 runs.

His season started off relatively slow, as he was a part-time designated hitter and occasional pinch-hitter. However, he was thrown into an everyday role at the mid-point of the season when first baseman Justin Morneau was lost to a concussion, shifting right fielder Michael Cuddyer to first base and Jason Kubel to a permanent role in the outfield.

Thome provided the Twins with a much needed power boost as he got more opportunities, electrifying the pitcher friendly Target Field with his mammoth blasts.

Combine Thome’s production with the clubhouse leadership that he provided throughout the season and it would seem like a no-brainer that the Twins would re-sign him for another season.

To this point, however, the buzz on Thome has been relatively non-existent. Much as is the case with the ongoing negotiations revolving around starting pitcher Carl Pavano, it appears that part of the delay has to do with the length of the contract.

It appears that Thome would like a two year contract if possible, a goal that might be out of reach as Thome would be 42 in the second year of such a deal.

Whether or not the Twins thought they’d have the luxury of taking their time in signing Thome, it would appear that their window of opportunity may be closing. Just this afternoon Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported that the Texas Rangers are actively working on acquiring the services of Thome.

Some media reports have placed the amount that Thome would command for a one year deal in the neighborhood of $8 million, an amount that may be too high for Texas given the fact that the Rangers have already pegged Michael Young as their designated hitter for the upcoming season.

The Twins hit 142 home runs as a team in 2010, putting them ninth in the American League in that category. The team could make up for the loss of Thome’s productivity with a healthy return from Justin Morneau, but it’s anybody’s guess as to whether or not he’ll be the same slugger when he comes back.

The Twins did pick up the 2011 option on Jason Kubel, a move that could indicate that the team is in no rush to overpay for Thome. But given the team’s success in utilizing both Thome and Kubel in 2010, any reasonable package to keep the fan favorite in Minnesota should be strongly considered.

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It appears that all the speculation that swirled around free agent Carl Pavano leaving the Minnesota Twins for another team will be coming to an end very soon.

FOXSports.com senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Twins are nearing a deal that will keep Pavano in a Twins uniform through the 2012 season.

Fans will be happy to hear this news, as Pavano became a favorite in Minnesota during his first year and a half with the team—because of both his consistently effective outings and that moustache that has given Twins fans the urge to apply phony facial hair before making their way to Target Field.

In December, I actually found myself writing that Pavano wasn’t the right fit for the Twins. I’m glad I can say at this point that I was wrong.

Archive: MLB Free Agency: Why Carl Pavano Doesn’t Fit With The 2011 Minnesota Twins

In reality, it wasn’t that I didn’t think that Pavano would be a beneficial part of the Twins rotation. After all, since joining the Twins in late 2009 Pavano has a combined 22-15 record with a 3.97 ERA.

Pavano was given type-A status as a free agent after the season, and was the most talented starter on the free-agent market after Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies.

My only concern with Pavano was his age. Pavano turns 35 on Saturday, and a three or four-year deal would be out of the question for the right-hander as his performance would likely decline as he nears 40.

The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed for the two-year deal, but expect it to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million per year.

Pavano will anchor a rotation that now will likely appear something like this:

No. 1 Starter: Carl Pavano

No. 2 Starter: Francisco Liriano

No. 3 Starter: Scott Baker

No. 4 Starter: Brian Duensing

No. 5 Starter: Kevin Slowey/Nick Blackburn

It’ll be interesting to see how both the front end and back end of the rotation play out as spring training gets under way in a little over a month. Many have been hoping that Liriano would emerge as a clear-cut ace and lead the staff, but his performance has shown that he may not be ready for such an undertaking.

In the back end of the rotation both Slowey and Blackburn have had significant highs and lows over the last couple of seasons.

Combine that with the fast tracking of prospect Kyle Gibson (who some are pegging as a possible contender for AL Rookie of the Year once given a shot with the club), and manager Ron Gardenhire will have some tough decisions to make before the Twins open the 2011 season.

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Despite opening a brand new outdoor stadium, re-signing their franchise catcher for the better part of the next decade, and winning their division in relatively easy fashion, the Minnesota Twins 2010 season would end the same as in previous years.

Yet another first round elimination at the hands of the New York Yankees would leave Twins fans wondering what it would take to succeed in October.

As the Twins look towards the 2011 season, they have to have concerns about the status of their pitching staff, both starters and relievers. Needless to say, Twins pitchers were at times unpredictable in 2010.

From the perspective of the starting rotation, free agent Carl Pavano is getting the vast majority of the attention when it comes to the state of the staff.

The Minnesota Twins would be wise to retain the services of Carl Pavano in 2011, however, due to his successes in 2010, it is becoming apparent that he might be too expensive for the Twins comfort.

As a result, the Twins will need to maximize the productivity of the pitchers they’ll have in 2011 if the team hopes to build on the success of 2010.

I’d still love to see Carl Pavano wearing a Twins uniform in 2011, but the possibility of that not happening makes it all that more important to pay close attention to some other key pieces of the staff.

No. 1 Starter Will Be: Francisco Liriano

In his first season back from reconstructive elbow surgery, Francisco Liriano definitely showed the pains of adjusting to form.

He finished the 2009 season with a 5-13 record and an ERA just under six, leading many to question whether or not he would be able to regain his pre-surgery confidence as the Twins entered the 2010 season. 

Liriano would prove his critics wrong, however, finishing the 2010 season with a 14-10 record and a 3.62 ERA. With the current uncertainty of Carl Pavano’s return to the rotation,  it’s a safe bet that the Twins will count on Liriano to be their opening day starter in 2011.

Should Be: Carl Pavano

Since Pavano joined the Twins in late 2009, he has a combined 22-15 record with a 3.97 ERA. That stability would go a long way in helping the franchise get back to the playoffs.

As I’ve already said, I hope I can see Pavano at Target Field in 2011. I just don’t want to see the Twins get cornered into offering a long term contract to him and ending up paying $10-13 million in a third or fourth year.

Pavano would be 38 years old, in a third year of a new deal, and it’s a safe bet that the productivity will have declined by that point.

That said, Pavano would be a great veteran option as a No. 1 starter, and in doing so, would take at least some pressure off of Liriano, who seems to get worked up easily in high pressure situations.

It does appear that Pavano would like to stay within the organization, but the amount of years the Twins are willing to offer seems to be a sticking point.

The Washington Nationals are said to have offered Pavano 3 years for $33 million, which might prove too much for him to walk away from.

No. 2 Starter Will Be: Scott Baker

For the past few seasons, Scott Baker has been holding down the opening day starter role for the Twins. While his numbers might not reflect that of a true staff “ace,” his productivity has helped get the Twins to where they are today.

Over the past two seasons, Baker has a 27-18 record with an ERA just under 4.50. Baker’s numbers overall have been solid, but critics have been quick to point out that he doesn’t have dominating stuff and relies too much on batters making contact to get them out.

Still, Baker is a moderately consistent pitcher who can provide a solid amount of innings for the Twins if he’s able to avoid giving up that one big inning as he’s done many times in the past.

Should Be: Francisco Liriano

As noted in the discussion of the number one starter spot, Liriano will likely end up being the ace of the staff if Carl Pavano ends up elsewhere as a result of free agency.

However if the Twins do end up retaining Pavano, Liriano would fit much better in the number two spot as he sometimes doesn’t appear to be completely comfortable being THE guy in the Twins rotation.

No. 3 Starter Will Be: Brian Duensing

When the 2010 season started, Brian Duensing was eating up innings as a member of the Twins’ bullpen. By season’s end, Duensing was one of the most consistent pitchers and had by all accounts solidified his permanent place in the starting rotation.

Duensing went 7-3 with an ERA of 3.44 as a starter in 2010, providing stability when starters Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn experienced their own struggles. He ended his season with a painful division series loss to the Yankees, but will still be relied upon for mid-rotation stability next season.

Should Be: Brian Duensing

Duensing belongs in and deserves this spot in the middle of the rotation. His overall consistency in a partial season as a starter could lead to great things when he has a full season starting at the major league level.

No. 4 Starter Will Be: Nick Blackburn

Definition: Enigma (noun):a person of puzzling or contradictory character

“Enigma” is perhaps the best way to describe Nick Blackburn last season. Blackburn got off to an impressive start to the 2010 season, silencing many critics who had thought his newly signed four year $14 million contract wasn’t deserved.

He would stumble however, leaving the team for a period of time for personal reasons, and ultimately being removed from the starting rotation and spending time in both the minor leagues and the Twins bullpen in the fall.

If Blackburn can gain confidence in his pitches, he can be the type of pitcher that the Twins thought he’d be when they gave him a contract extension, he will fit just fine in the rotation. If not, Twins GM will need to take a close look at other options available.

Should Be: Scott Baker

In the event that Pavano, Liriano and Duensing will hold up the front end of the rotation this season, Baker would be a solid No. 4 option to hold up the back end. He’s made his fair share of starts as the team’s top pitcher, but at this point he may be better suited to add depth to the second half of the rotation.

No. 5 Starter Will Be: Kevin Slowey

Kevin Slowey’s best season as a Twin came in 2010, as he went 13-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 28 starts. His talent hasn’t been in question, and many think he has the pitches to last in this league.

What he may not have is the health to stay in the league. Slowey has made trips to the disabled list three times in the last three years, an alarming trend considering he is only 26 years old.

All indications are that the tricep injury that put Slowey on the DL last August has healed and that he will be ready to go when pitchers and catchers report in February. Still, Slowey’s durability is something that has to be watched closely.

Should Be: Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson started the 2010 season with the organization’s Single-A team, but solid performances throughout the summer earned him a spot in the rotation at Triple-A Rochester by season’s end.

Between the clubs Gibson pitched in last season, he earned himself an 11-6 record in 26 starts. He struck out more than seven batters per nine innings while walking two per nine.

If Pavano does end up leaving for Washington or Slowey’s health does fail him as it could seemingly do at any time, it’s quite possible that Gibson will be called upon to fill a spot in the rotation.

Assuming the rest of the rotation holds up, Gibson’s placement in the rotation would force Nick Blackburn to the Twins’ bullpen, where he could potentially help fill existing holes.

It’s not a completely unfathomable situation since Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has made it clear that Duensing won’t be back in the bullpen.

The organization doesn’t want to put Gibson in the bullpen since he’s the best starting talent that the Twins have had in their farm system in a long time, and they’d like him to be starting for the Twins as soon as possible.

Note: Projected starting rotation based on Minnesota Twins current depth chart

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As the 2010 season approached, it was expected that the American League Central division race would come down to the final games. The division had been decided by a tie breaking 163rd game in 2008 and 2009, so there was no reason to believe that 2010 would be any different.

The unpredictability of the division continued in 2010, as The Minnesota Twins came out of the gates hot, holding an early lead in the division after the first month. The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers would close the gap, and as the All Star break came the White Sox found themselves in the drivers seat for the division crown.

The Twins would ultimately have the last laugh, playing determined baseball down the stretch and clinching the division well before many others in baseball had been decided.

The 2011 season promises to be another close one in the AL Central, with the Twins determined to defend their crown, and the White Sox and Tigers stocking up with talent this offseason. As we prepare to turn the calendar and look towards spring training, let’s look at the AL Central’s best players at each position.

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