Puckett's Pond
Fansided

Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Top 10 Teams in Franchise History

By Otto Johnson

FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 24: Catcher Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins congratulates Justin Morneau #33 after his home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Hammond Stadium on March 24, 2013 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 24: Catcher Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins congratulates Justin Morneau #33 after his home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Hammond Stadium on March 24, 2013 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 12
Next
Minnesota Twins
Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins got his first win of the year against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on April 27, 2006. The Twins won 7-3. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /

8. 2006 Minnesota Twins (96-67)

The 2006 Twins team had the best pitcher and hitter in the MLB, with Justin Morneau taking home MVP and Johan Santana winning Cy Young the pitching triple crown in the American League. In addition to the two top players in the league, the roster had three All-Stars: Santana, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Mauer.

Morneau, Liriano, and Santana all had the best seasons of their career, combining for a 16.5 WAR. Mauer was once again the best catcher in the league and Joe Nathan went 7-0 with 36 saves. The team looked absolutely dominant all season and edged out a 95-win Tigers team (that would go on to the World Series) to steal the division.

This star-studded team looked like a trendy World Series pick when the playoffs arrived, but wilted in the ALDS and were swept by the Oakland Athletics. The loss to the A’s team was really disheartening, and the Twins would miss the playoffs the next two seasons. Despite being more talented than some of the other teams ahead of them, this team’s playoff failure keeps them lower in the rankings.

Home/Minnesota Twins History