Minnesota Twins: 5 Offseason Moves That Could Revive the Franchise

One of the worst MLB teams in 2012, the Minnesota Twins seem to have a long road ahead of them if they plan to return to contention in the AL Central.

2013 will likely not be “the year” for the Twins, but there are some positives.

Ben Revere, for example, has speed and is a versatile outfielder. Joe Mauer, meanwhile, is the clear leader of this team. 

Outside of these players, here are five franchise moves that could help revitalize baseball in Minneapolis. 

Trade Justin Morneau

Justin Morneau is a team leader, but he had a career-worst 102 strikeouts in 2012, hitting just .267 with 77 RBI.

Much like Michael Cuddyer before him, Morneau will likely be an appealing piece this offseason. Going into a contract year, it seems more reasonable for the Twins to move Morneau rather than re-sign him.

His trade value has likely decreased this season, so to move him would probably yield nothing more than prospects, but that is exactly what Minnesota needs.

For any substantial value in return, Morneau will likely have to be paired with a player like Ryan Doumit.

Add an Ace

This doesn’t mean it has to happen right now. 

The Twins have no pitchers in the top 100 prospects, and that is going to pose a problem moving forward.

Carl Pavano is aging, injury prone and ineffective. Scott Diamond’s 12 wins marked the only double-digit win total last season.  

Notable starters on the free-agent market include Dan Haren and Zack Greinke.

Another starter on the market will be former Twin Kyle Lohse, who comes off the best season of his career (16-3 record, 2.86 ERA). St. Louis may not want to let Lohse go so easily, though.

Add to the Bullpen

It may still take some getting used to without having Joe Nathan at the back of the Twins bullpen, but Matt Capps and Glen Perkins combined for 30 saves this season.

Adding a free-agent reliever such as Jonathan Broxton or Koji Uehara would solidify the bullpen.

With a more dominant bullpen—which was seventh in runs allowed this year—Minnesota's starters won't have to last as long.

Sign a Shortstop

The Twins could definitely use a shortstop.

Stephen Drew, who was more than serviceable as a rental player for the A’s in their final surge for the AL West, would be an optimal singing.

With a $10 million mutual option, Drew wouldn't be cheap, but he would be a quality No. 2 hitter in the lineup.

Build from the Minor Leagues

One of the top prospects in the Twins system is third baseman Miguel Sano. He has a .965 fielding percentage and a .258 batting average, but he has 100 RBI in 129 games.

For the big club, third baseman Trevor Plouffe has a .935 fielding percentage. 

Jim Rantz, the farm system director, has been with the Twins in some capacity since their move from Washington. He helped develop David Ortiz, Joe Mauer and Kirby Puckett. 

A strong farm system is crucial in revitalizing a franchise, and after he announced his retirement, it will be crucial to find an adequate replacement.