YBB American League preview: Minnesota Twins

By: Gavin Ewbank | Lead Writer

It seems like the Minnesota Twins have not been good since moving to their new, big ballpark, moving from the indoor Metrodome, to the beautiful work of outside baseball.

After making the playoffs in both 2009 and 2010, the Twins have lost at least 96 games three consecutive years in-a-row.

With a record of 66-96, the Twins were not very good this year, so they set out to improve on that during the offseason.

Several key pitching additions should help this pitching challenged team very much. Ricky Nolasco was their biggest signing of the winter, and Phil Hughes could also turn out to be a big signing if he's able to turn things around after ending his Yankee career in a very low note.

The Twins reportedly made string runs after Ervin Santana and Bronson Arroyo, too, but came up short on both pitchers.

Offensively, Joe Mauer has been left as the only real start in the lineup, and will probably be the only position to represent his hometown team during the All-Star Game this summer at Target Field.

The Twins moved Mauer over to first bas from behind the plate during the offseason, and that should prove to be a very smart move that not only benefits Mauer, but also the Twins, who gave him a big long-term contract a few years ago.

Justin Morneau's tenure in Minnesota came to an end over the winter when he signed as a free-agent with the Colorado Rockies.

With Mauer moving over to first base, this move won't be too bad for the Twins, especially since Morneau has not been an all-star first baseman since suffering a concussion a few years ago.

Top prospect Byron Buxton will start the year in the minors. He's the top ranked prospect in baseball by a lot of top sites, and his future arrival to the big league club will be a good addition if he pans out.

The Yankees and Twins will only have a pair of meeting this season; the first coming in late-May when Minnesota comes to the Bronx for a three-game set, and they won't meet against until July when the Yankees stop at Target Field for four games on July 3-6.

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