Spring training is a little over 10 days away and as the Minnesota Twins get set to report to Ft. Myers one of the biggest questions facing the team is who will be in the starting rotation.
There is a lot of excitement in the Twins organization over right hander Jose Berrios, while another right-hander, Tyler Duffey, certainly showed the club he was ready for the bright lights by going 5-1 with 3.10 ERA in 10 starts last season.
Do either have a chance to make the rotation? The answer – stay tuned.
Here is what we know: Right-handers Ervin Santana, Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson are locks to make the rotation – barring injury or unexpected suspension, of course.
That leaves just two spots for lefty Tommy Milone, veteran righty Ricky Nolasco, righty Trevor May, Berrios and Duffey.
According to MLB.com Twins blogger Rhett Bollinger, Milone will be given every chance to make the rotation. He gives the Twins something no one else can, a left-handed starter.
May had a lot of success in the Twins’ bullpen, and while Twins G.M. Terry Ryan said during the offseason that May will be given a chance to earn a spot in the rotation, the way he performed late in games for Minnesota last season suggests he could help solve the Twins’ bullpen issues.
That leaves Nolasco, who is still owed more than $24 million over the next two seasons, Duffey and Berrios vying for the last spot in the rotation this spring.
Berrios is one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in the minors. He is ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect by MLBpipeline.com, but it might be more likely that he will begin 2016 in the minors.
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Another hint could come from the Star Tribune’s Phil Miller, who notes that Fangraphs.com is predicting some value from Nolasco, who missed much of last season with an ankle injury.
Things are shaping up for an interesting spring in Ft. Myers.
