Twins 2016 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2016 Minnesota Twins predictions? The Minnesota Twins look to build on a 2015 season in which they won 83 games and finished second in the AL Central when they take to the field a year older in 2016. The problem?
MLB Twins Predictions & Handicapping Insight
They have the two-time defending AL Champions KC Royals in their division as well as the revamped Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.
Can the youthful Twins take the next step and grab a playoff spot this upcoming season? It seems unlikely they surpass the Royals but a Wild Card could be within their grasp.
Let’s take a deeper look into the team and project where they end up this upcoming season.
- Twins American League Central Future Odds: +1000
- Twins American League Pennant Future Odds: +2500
- Twins 2016 World Series Futures Odds: +5000
Key Additions
Byung-ho Park (1B) and John Ryan Murphy (C)
Key Losses
Torii Hunter (OF), Aaron Hicks (OF), and Mike Pelfrey (SP)
2016 Twins Predictions – Projected Lineup:
- 1. CF Byron Buxton
- 2. 2B Brian Dozier
- 3. 1B Joe Mauer
- 4. LF Miguel Sano
- 5. 3B Trevor Plouffe
- 6. RF Eddie Rosario
- 7. DH Byung-ho Park
- 8. C J.R. Murphy
- 9. SS Eduardo Escobar
The Minnesota Twins offense is a tad tough to project ahead of the 2016 – they will definitely be OK but there is a ton of upside with the youngsters on the team.
If the prospects can stay healthy and on the Big-League roister it will be a good sign that the Twins offense is doing its job. Perhaps the biggest prospect in Bryon Buxton who suffered through injury last year but show signs in the final 20 games of the season when he batted .273.
Second man up Brian Dozier tailed off at the end of last year but should be able to better his numbers after an offseason conditioning program.
Miguel Sano is an intriguing left fielder with crazy power – he didn’t miss a beat once he was called up from the minors and Korean import Byung-ho Park brings his terrific bat to the Majors.
The problem I see is that after these four, there are a ton of question marks for the team to become a truly elite offensive club.
The Royals within their division have shown in the last two years that a top tier offense may not be necessary, meaning it may be up to the pitching to keep the Twins in the Central race.
2016 Twins Predictions – Projected Rotation:
- 1. RHP Ervin Santana
- 2. RHP Phil Hughes
- 3. RHP Kyle Gibson
- 4. RHP Ricky Nolasco
- 5. LHP Tommy Milone
The biggest area of improvement for the Twins the last couple of seasons is in the pitching staff – thanks to Coach Neil Allen who took this unit from last in the Bigs to middle-of-the-pack.
The Twins hope to get a full year from Ervin Santana who was suspended last year and Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco who both spent time on IR in 2015.
Their health will go a long way toward making the Twins competitive. Minnesota’s brass obviously saw enough from Kyle Gibson who may have been the bright spot in the rotation last year – he is a super-solid #3.
Tommy Milone showed flashes toward the end of last year.
Like the offense the Twins have a ton of upside in the rotation. If health is on their side there is no reason they can’t be a top 10 rotation in the Major Leagues – but that is a BIG IF.
2016 Twins Predictions – Projected Bullpen:
- LHP Glen Perkins (Closer)
- RHP Kevin Jepsen
- RHP Trevor May
- RHP Casey Fien
- RHP Ricky Nolasco
- LHP Fernando Abad
- RHP J.R. Graham
The pen will be anchored by three-time All-Star closer Glen Perkins who has had injury issues the last couple of years.
Kevin Jepsen was terrific in the closer role in Perkins absence last year and Trevor May is a fireballer that had a good year in 2015.
The late-inning guys for Minnesota are decent for sure but like the rest of the team, they fall into the “upside category” rather than being at the “sure-thing” level. A lot of things are going to have to go right for Minnesota to become a top third pen this year.
That said there are some intriguing arms and stellar prospects at Triple A ready to fill a void if need be.
2016 Minnesota Twins Season Predictions:
The Twins look like a team ready to take a serious step up. But there are better teams in the AL Central – the Royals being one and the Tigers being the other.
The Twins should be in a dogfight with Detroit for second in the division but to me it looks like they fall short. Third place in the Central is likely with the future looking bright in Minnesota. Maybe next year, assuming the Royals lose some more pieces next winter.
What do you think of our 2016 Minnesota Twins predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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