Ranking the 9 Opponents the Minnesota Twins face in 2020
By Otto Johnson
Minnesota Twins Competitor No. 6: Cincinnati Reds
Key Players: 3B Eugenio Suarez, SP Luis Castillo, SP Sonny Gray, SP Trevor Bauer
This Reds team will surprise some people this season. Eugenio Suarez and Luis Castillo are absolute stars that almost no one is talking about. Sonny Gray found his All-Star form again. Trevor Bauer is a very good starter.
On top of those four, the Reds signed 3B Mike Moustakas and OF Nicholas Castellanos to add more pop to a lineup that needed it. Castellanos will flourish in a DH role, and Joey Votto, Nick Senzel, and Jesse Winker are good complementary pieces right now (with higher ceilings).
Throw in Raisel Iglesias leading an excellent bullpen, the Reds have the ability to make some noise if all the pieces fall into place. The issue is, that’s a BIG if. The Reds will win somewhere between 30-40 games, but they aren’t an elite competitor, landing them here.
Minnesota Twins Competitor No. 5: Cleveland Indians
Key Players: SS Francisco Lindor, 3B Jose Ramirez, SP Shane Bieber, SP Mike Clevinger
I don’t think the Indians finish second in the division this year, but hear me out. Lindor and Ramirez are superstars. Roberto Perez had a breakout year, Carlos Santana rebounded in his return to Cleveland, and Oscar Mercado may be something. I still don’t think that’s enough.
There are holes in there lineup that they haven’t completely filled. If Ramirez starts slow again and that back of the rotation struggles, the Indians may trade Lindor two years early. If that happens, this team finishes with 30 wins and isn’t close to a playoff bid.
Now I may be wrong, and the White Sox (who i’ll get to) don’t mature like they should while the Twins regress, allowing the Indians to take the division, but I really doubt either of those things will happen.
Minnesota Twins Competitor No. 4: Chicago White Sox
Key Players: SP Lucas Giolito, C Yasmani Grandal, 2B Yoan Moncada, 1B Jose Abreu
Outside of the Yankees, Dodgers, and Angels, the White Sox had the best offseason of any team in the MLB. Getting one of the league’s best catchers in Grandal, two very good pitchers in Dallas Kuechel and Gio Gonzalez, and two very good hitters in Edwin Encarnacion and Nomar Mazara.
Add all those great additions (including Steve Cishek) are now added to a lineup that already includes Jose Abreu and a ton of top prospects coming into their own including Moncada, Nick Madrigal, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert.
On top of that, Giolito is a bonafide ace. If the back of the rotation steps up, the bullpen remains solid, and (most importantly) the young guns take the next step, the White Sox could make this interesting. But for now, they remain here.