Minnesota Twins' Future Looks Good No Matter What Happens

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

No matter what happens tomorrow and the rest of the season, Minnesota Twins fans can rest assured that things are in good shape for next season.  Unlike seasons past, this Twins team is actually built for success in the postseason...if they can just manage to get there.

That's what makes this latest postseason chase so disappointing: I like this team as is, right now.  When I called for Twins GM Bill Smith to step up on July 28, just days before the trading deadline, few if any Twins fan, myself included figured on anything special besides the same old excuses.

In fact, I continued my rant by writing the article "Grading Twins' GM Bill Smith's Trade Deadline Performance," where I gave Smith a "C" since he hadn't added the starting pitcher the team so desperately, and obviously, needed, in addition to several bullpen arms, which was then actually the Twins' biggest weakness.

I noted a "B" would have been given if he added a starting pitcher or a reliever and an "A" if he basically added both. 

Well, a surprise Aug. 1 waiver claim turned out to be starter Carl Pavano, who went 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts with the Twins, and the bullpen help came on Aug. 27 with a waiver claim for reliever Jon Rauch 4-1 2.08 ERA in 14 outings and 13.2 crucial innings, helping out a dead and ineffective bullpen.  Even more reassuring, this near seven-foot stud is already signed for $2.9M next year, courtesy of an earlier option picked up by Arizona, from whence he came.

Also, the Twins have added 38-year-old veteran southpaw Ron Mahay, who has gone 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA since joining the club.  With those moves, in addition to the Cabrera signing, the "C" I initially gave the GM Smith is now easily an "A".

The thing is, for the first time in years, the Twins were given a real, legitimate fighting chance thanks to their GM's real moves.  Not since the overused 2003 steal of Shannon Stewart from the always-fledgling Blue Jays had the Twins done anything significant at the deadline, and now they added three real impact veterans in an unfathomable fashion.  Smith, to his credit, should be rewarded, and as I've been telling my friends, I was wrong and I admit it.

This is why to see this latest miracle run (13 out of 16 wins) fall short would be so disappointing as in the other usual excuse-creating years.  Cabera and Pavano are both free agents-to-be that have done everything we've asked as fans.

Cabrera, just by taking at-bats away from manager Ron Gardenhire's pet—Nick Punto, who's hitting a whopping .232 despite being paid $4.25 million this year—already proved to be a worthy move.  Not only that, but his on-base percentage of .299 and batting average of .272, while not flashy, are some of the best offensive numbers the Twins have gotten out of that position in years, proving what a revolving door, and how mediocre at best, its been, thanks in large part to Pet Punto.

On a team where defense is usually the mantra for shortstops, Cabrera gave the Twins a fighting chance every time he came up not to mention many exciting hits in his 54 games since.  There has to be a way to keep him for next year.

Projected Payroll $90M next year?

Thanks to the Twins' new $512-million dollar open-air stadium next year, rumors abound that the Twins could have a payroll around $90M next season, which could be enough to keep Pavano and Cabrera, both of whom, I'm hearing, the Twins will do everything they can to accommodate, especially if you heard Peter Gammons on ESPN on Tuesday.  Gammons has also been saying all along to prepare for a one-game playoff in Minneapolis vs. Detroit on Tuesday...

What should/could that team look like based on 2010 salary projections?

Infield

1B Justin Morneau: $13M.

2B Punto: $4.25M (by default to justify his salary and "gold glove" defense).

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