The Minnesota Twins can contend for a World Series if…
Opening Day is less than one week away, and to be honest, I still can’t believe that this is happening. For a while there, it didn’t look like this day would come anytime soon. Nonetheless, if the Minnesota Twins can stay healthy and trade for a starting pitcher, then they’ll be contending for a World Series.
Imagine a season in which Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton are both healthy. You’re talking about two guys who could lead the league in wins above replacement (WAR). Last year, Correa finished third in that category, and if Buxton didn’t get hurt, it’s likely he would have been in the top five as well.
Minnesota has two MVP candidates on its roster. That right there is the perfect recipe for doing some damage in the playoffs.
For any team, staying healthy can make or break their season. For the Twins, when Buxton misses half the season, it’s been harder to win some games. Along with Buxton, Correa, Alex Kirilloff, Jorge Polanco, Luis Arraez, and many other guys on this roster have struggled to stay healthy.
Minnesota played some pretty bad games last year, but injuries did derail their season. There were plenty of non-major league players starting games and taking the field. However, when healthy, this team has one of the deadliest lineups in baseball.
- Jorge Polanco, 2B
- Carlos Correa, SS
- Byron Buxton, CF
- Alex Kirilloff, LF
- Miguel Sanó, 1B
- Max Kepler, RF
- Gary Sanchez, DH
- Gio Urshela, 3B
- Ryan Jeffers, C
There’s a lot of versatility there, and Minnesota has the option to move anyone up or down the order depending on the matchup. They also have Arraez and Nick Gordon coming off the bench.
Rocco Baldelli also has the luxury of moving guys around the field because of their defensive versatility. There are a bunch of players.
Staying healthy and having a good lineup is cool and all, but the starting pitching needs work. That’s the biggest question mark heading into the season.
As of now, the starting rotation looks like this:
That’s not great. However, the Twins have the assets to work out a trade with someone like the Oakland Athletics or Miami Marlins. Minnesota must find a way to land one of Frankie Montas, Sean Mannaea or Sandy Alcantara.
If they can do that, then they’ll have a real shot at contending for a World Series. You’re talking about three solid starting pitchers, a reliable fourth option in Ober, and a wildcard in Bundy/Archer.
Bundy or Archer could surprise us. In 2020, Bundy was a good pitcher, but he had a lot of hiccups in 2021. Archer has struggled to stay healthy, but when he plays, he’s one of the best in the game.
I’m not expecting that to happen this season for either guy, but they could both go out there and give you a good start on any given day.
The starting rotation still needs work, but if they can land another starter and stay healthy, then the Twins have a real shot at contending for the World Series.
