MLB Preview: AL Central

Perennial contender, the Minnesota Twins have made the most noise this off-season with the opening of Target Field (a design and idea ripped off from one of my grad school projects!!) I digress, the Twins got down to business, signing hometown hero Joe Mauer to a long-term deal that essentially guarantees Mauer hitting 3rd and playing C for the next 9 years. The spending spree continued as the "low budget" Twins locked in speedy, Denard Span to a multi-year deal.

Minnesota - The Twins have done a good job of maintaining and cultivating talent over the years. The trend continues with the most recent influx of hitters and more importantly, pitchers. There are three main question marks surrounding last year's Central Champs.

1. Justin Morneau - will he stay healthy and return to form out of the 4 hole? Cuddyer and Kubel put up great power numbers last year but if the Twins plan on competing, a healthy Morneau is a necessity.
2. Can Jon Rauch be 1/2 the closer Joe Nathan was? With Nathan out for this year, and likely part of next, Jon Rauch has been handed the reins as closer. Time will tell how effective he'll be and how long he'll stay in that role.
3. Francisco Liriano - ready to re-assume his slot in the starting rotation, Liriano must return to the Liriano that lit up the league in his rookie season. He has the stuff to pitch at this level. His health is a minor concern but his control is the bigger question.

Detroit - Losing Granderson hurt but gaining Johnny Damon is never a bad thing. A recent SI article pointed out that Damon can hit a number of milestones (3000 hits, 500 doubles, 100 triples, 200 homers, 1000 RBIs, 1500 runs) if he hangs around a few more years. Worth noting, Damon is not hanging around just yet. His arm was never good but he brings WAY more to the table and that more than makes up for it. This team is loaded with hitters, a lineup that boasts Magglio Ordonez (who will be allowed to play this year because there are no funky contractual rules mandating he does not get too many ABs), Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen, Johnny Damon, and Brandon Inge will surely put up a good amount of runs. Young stars like Scott Sizemore and Austin Jackson (acquired for Granderson) are being given the chance to show their stuff for Jim Leyland's club. Highlighting the hitting is not meant to slight the starting rotation that is headlined by Justin Verlander and his clone, Rick Porcello. Give that duo 2-3 years and the Tigers will be the most talked about staff in baseball. Did I mention the rest of the starters are Max Scherzer, Jeremy Bonderman, and Dontrelle Willis (who by all accounts has re-discovered his stuff)?

Chicago - The White Sox are here to fill up the middle of the division, though let's not forget the late season addition of Jake Peavy and Alex Rios. The off-season saw the team bring in Juan Pierre (why not resign Scott Podsednik is beyond me since they are the same player), Mark Teahan (a deal that shifts Gordon Beckham from 3B to 2B), and Andruw Jones (to play the part of the overweight, washed up, DH). Which Carlos Quentin will show up in 2010? Which Bobby Jenks can we expect - he is effective and closes a bunch of games, but pitches to a very high ERA and gives up his fair share of hits, runs, and base runners.

Cleveland - highlighted earlier and I do not expect much here.

Kansas City - great stadium, great BBQ at Jack's Stack, not much to write home about with this team.

1. Detroit - 98 wins
2. Minnesota - 95 wins
3. Chicago - 87 wins
4. Cleveland
5. KC