MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for Yoenis Cespedes
By John Buhler
Minnesota Twins
AL, Central
If you think the NL Central race will be compelling, switch leagues and watch it all unfold in the Junior Circuit in the AL Central. While the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers look to be punting their seasons, it feels like a competitive three-team race between the Cleveland Indians, the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins.
Cleveland should be the favorite to win the AL Central. This is the same Indians organization that came within a game of winning the 2016 World Series. It would be strange to not see Terry Francona’s club playing deep into October. Kansas City has already been to two World Series this decade. The window might have closed, but Kansas City does tend to play its best ball in the second half as an organization.
As for the Twins, it has been seven years since Minnesota made the postseason. Yes, it has been that long and it is time for Paul Molitor’s club to get back to playing meaningful baseball in October. Minnesota is only half a game back of Cleveland in the AL Central. After being horrendous in 2016, it seems that Minnesota is arriving as a strong team in the American League for the rest of the decade.
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Minnesota might already have a power-hitting from the right side in designated hitter Miguel Sano, but a contender can’t have enough power bats. Cespedes may have had an injury-riddled start to his 2017, but he’s still very much the player he has been the last few years when he’s healthy. In short, he’s the perfect player to get a team over the top in a postseason race. He might even be a solid fit for the Twins core going forward.