MLB Power Rankings: Post Winter Meetings

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton is introduced as a member of the New York Yankees during the 2017 Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort on Monday, December 11, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 04: Fernando Rodney #56 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a ninth inning pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the National League Wild Card Game at Chase Field on October 4, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

13. Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have made three signings at the MLB level this offseason, adding Michael Pineda, Fernando Rodney and Taylor Featherston. None of these are moves that will push a team over the top. Pineda will probably not even pitch until 2019 as he comes back from Tommy John, Rodney will be 41 on Opening Day and was wildly inconsistent last year. Featherston is a Quad-A utility player.

Just because the Twins have not done anything big yet this winter does not mean they won’t, but their chances of adding a rotation-changing starting pitcher like Yu Darvish or Jake Arrieta are slim. Ervin Santana is the most expensive free agent in Twins history, and he topped out at $55 million. It will take more than double that to land Darvish or Arrieta.

There were a lot of fluky things that helped drive the Twins back to the playoffs last year, but they do have a much more potent lineup than people are willing to give them credit for. Center fielder Byron Buxton is finally living up to the hype, Miguel Sano is a superstar if he stays healthy and Eddie Rosario is very underrated in left field. Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier provide the veteran leadership.

Signing Zack Cozart before the Los Angeles Angels could snap him up was a move that would have made sense for the Twins. Cozart was willing to play third base for a winner, and adding him would have allowed the Twins to make Sano a permanent DH. The Twins still look like a potential playoff team in the AL, even if it’s only because they will play Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City a combined 57 times next season.

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