Mauer and Not Much Else For the Time Being

Mauer and Not Much Else For the Time Being

 

 Despite spending money on pitching to help an absolutely atrocious rotation, the Minnesota Twins are not better off. There’s a big difference between spending money on pitching and spending money on bodies to change up the staff. Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco are not rotation savers or guys you want to invest a lot of money in. Now some people will say that Hughes will be so much better off being away from Yankee Stadium and inside the friendly pitcher confines of Target Field. To that I say, I’m a Yankee fan, at no point did I ever have confidence in Hughes as a starter. It doesn’t matter where he pitches, he cannot consistently get guys out. Same goes for Nolasco and these are the guys Minnesota wants anchoring their staff.

Offensively, besides Joe Mauer and aging veterans Jason Kubel and Josh Willingham, there’s not much there. Sure, the future is very bright with uber prospect and Mike Trout-esque Byron Buxton on the horizon and Miguel Sano who was being hyped as the next big thing power wise before needing Tommy John Surgery. Now as far as Sano is concerned who knows how good he will be after experiencing this injury. Knowing you’re right on the cusp of the show and having to go through this procedure and strenuous rehab can really take a lot out of a player. 

2014 is going to amount to nothing but a wasted season both for the team and for Joe Mauer in his prime. One of the best hitters in the game in the last 10 years and his time is being wasted in Minnesota. Being in a division with perennial World Series favorite Detroit and the much improved Indians, Royals, and White Sox leaves Minnesota to be the punching bag for everyone else to train on.  

 

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the Colorado Rockies and what to expect this season in the Mile High City. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.