The move definitely puts pressure on the Twins to improve their team drastically in the next two years or risk becoming an also-ran in the Central, but Nick Nelson notes that Fielder does not remove all hope for the Twins in 2011.  Ultimately, the Fielder signing changes little for the Twins, as Judd Zulgad notes, as they still need Francisco Liriano to return to dominance and for Scott Baker to remain healthy for an entire season to anchor a pitching staff that includes Carl Pavano (Opening Day starter?!) and Jason Marquis.  Minnesota will also need a couple of new faces in the bullpen to out-perform expectations (as Glen Perkins did in 2011) and if Mauer and Morneau are healthy, the Twins will have a chance to make sure Detroit’s Championship Drive detours through Minneapolis.

And now the links:

The real Winners and Losers of the Prince Fielder deal lists Fielder as both a winner AND a loser.  Sorry, I just cannot find any reason to think a guaranteed contract of $214 million dollars makes you a loser, not no way, not no how.

Even the Gleeman and the Geek Podcast is getting in on the Prince Fielder news, discussing the acquisition at length in their most recent podcast.  This podcast has definitely improved by leaps and bounds, from its debut during the height of the Twins’ downward spiral late in 2011, and is quickly becoming a weekly must-listen in my books.

In addition to the podcast, the Twins Geek, John Bonnes, examines the Hyperbole of Fielder and realistically assesses his value to the Tigers in 2012.

Even without Victor Martinez, the Tigers have themselves a fearsome homerun tandem in Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera.  John Swol looks back at Twins history and spot lights their biggest and best home run power combinations (Killebrew is half of the top six power combos!)

Because I know you were hoping for one last Prince Fielder related article, here is the Sweetspot’s David Schoenfield with a position by position breakdown of AL Central player rankings.  Despite my own optimism heading into 2012, Schoenfield does not list the Twins as having the best player at ANY POSITION, (not even Joe Mauer at catcher), and when he adds all the rankings together, he projects the Twins to once again be the doormats of the Central.  Not good, Twins fans.  (more…)