Minnesota Twins: Should the Chicago White Sox cause us worry?
By Nate Palmer
The Minnesota Twins are seemingly chasing down the Indians in 2019, but do they need to be concerned with the White Sox coming up behind them?
The Minnesota Twins came into the offseason as a team that did not perform well in 2018 but looks poised to be able to do something moving into 2019. That is if they make the right additions to their roster with what looks like an ample amount of payroll flexibility. The Twins also have a healthy amount of prospects that other teams will find intriguing which arms the front office with the ability to make trades to boost the roster as well.
That is why so many people who follow the Twins pinpointed this as an offseason that the Twins would make some bold trades and/or free agent signings. There were visions of Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, and Patrick Corbin dancing in our heads, even if it was foolishly. All those things only seemed that much more possible and needed as the Cleveland Indians were seemingly begging the Twins to take the American League Central from them.
Instead of the Twins seizing the chance and chasing free agent names and making big trades, it is the Chicago White Sox that seem to be doing so. This weekend the Indians made official another acquisition as they traded with the Indians for first baseman Yonder Alonso. Alonso who happens to also be Machado’s brother-in-law.
In addition to Alonso, the White Sox have also added Ivan Nova, Alex Colome, James McCann and Manny Banuelos all via trade. The White Sox have also been connected in one way or another to Machado, Harper, Andrew Miller, Adam Ottavino, and Michael Brantley just to name some of the names. It must be an exciting time to be a fan on the south side of Chicago.
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The White Sox also have the prospects of continuing to see Yoan Moncada progress in his development and Eloy Jimenez looks to be on the horizon as well. Is it time for us as Twins fans to start worrying if the White Sox will leapfrog the Twins and the Indians to take control of the AL Central already in 2019? We know they have talent coming up the pipeline, but could it all come together this early?
So time to tap the brakes at least a little on this whole thought train. While the White Sox have certainly at least made my head turn their direction the only player that I wish the Twins would have gone after that they have actually acquired is Colome. Even with all those players added to the roster as a group they only represent about 3 wins according to their 2018 WAR totals.
Next. Twins interested in RP Kelvin Herrera. dark
If the White Sox do manage to land Harper or Machado it may change our thoughts about them as Division contenders. What will hold them back is it looks like their starting rotation is still in need of some help. That in addition to some hopeful additions to come to the Twins roster make it not quite time to usher the White Sox into the AL Central champion party just yet. These last several weeks is at least a reminder that this window may be small as the Indians look to retool and for the Twins to seize the moment to be AL Central champions once again.