Twins Fans... Baseball Fans... and Others reading this... I have seen the future, and it is good. 

In the aftermath of the Twins shocking sweep at the hands of the Athletics, I am forced to wonder what could have been.  What if Liriano doesn't go down with a mysterious elbow injury?  What if the Twins could learn to stop swinging at the first pitch against Zito, even as he consistantly proved he couldn't find the strike zone with both hands and a flashlight.  What if Johan hadn't hung a change-up to Thomas in game one?  What if?

 But I could sit and dwell on the worst series of baseball the Twins played in the last 3 months, or I can look at the future.  This Twins roster is full of young players who gained valuable (albeit a small amount) of playoff experience, a roster that I felt was a year away from playoff contention got a taste of the big show. 

 This experience I can relate back to college hockey.  Last season the Badgers were the national champions.  (Shocking, I know)  But the year before that, the Badger squad earned a surprise bid into the frozen four, their young squad, led by only 2 seniors gained valuable experience against the nations best talent.  The next year, they rolled through the competition and eventually won the title. 

Could this be the future for the Twins?  They have a young roster that will return as in-tact as GM Terry Ryan chooses.  Mauer and Morneau will both be offered long-term contracts in this offseason to avoid the gamble that is arbitration.  The Twins hold an option on Castillo, Bartlett has not reached arbitration eligibility, and Punto will be arbitration eligable.  Kubel is not aribtration eligble yet, Hunter is under contract, and Cuddyer will be offered arbitration.  The Twins could field a lineup nearly identical to the one presented now. 

 The Twins will be looking to add a power bat to their line-up by bringing in a legit DH threat.  Someone to take the pressure off of Morneau in the power game. 

 The Twins staff looks to be the league's most dominant for the next 3-4 years with Johan, Liriano, Bonser, Garza and Perkins all young, and with MLB experience.  The Twins may look to add a veteran pitcher to their roster, and slide Perkins into a bullpen role at the beginning of the season (similar to how Liriano was used initially this year)

 The Twins may look to trade one of their young bullpen studs for a LF bat or a DH.

 My prediction for the 2007 Roster:

 2b - Castillo

3b - Punto

C - Mauer

RF - Cuddyer

1B - Morneau

CF - Hunter

DH - (FA)

LF - Kubel

SS - Bartlett

 SP - Johan

SP - Bonser

SP - Liriano (Splitting Johan and Liriano is a good idea)

SP - Garza (proved he was MLB ready during the stretch run)

SP - FA

 Bullpen:

 Nathan

Rincon

Neshek

Reyes

Perkins

Guerrier

(Crain = Traded)

 I don't know who the Twins will go out and get, but I believe the Twins will be bringing in a new DH (or better grooming Rondell White for the position)

 The Twins will look for a Veteran, innings eating pitcher to put at the bottom of the rotation.  The Twins have a lot of young pitchers who will put together solid performances, but throw too many pitches, resulting in exits after 6 innings.  The Twins need a guy who can come in and post an era of 4.5 and eat up 7-8 innings a start. This will take an actual investment by Terry Ryan, but this team has be considered a world series favorite.

 How will the Twins pay for my additions and the re-signings?  Simple... Radke is going to retire, 9 Million dollars off the books.  Stewart Will not return 6 million off the books.  Rondell White will not return 3 million off the books.  Lohse' 4 million no longer ont he books.  That is a combined 22 Million dollars of salary no longer affecting the Twins roster, this should allow the Twins to get long-term deals to the M&M boys, and sign two quality free agents without raising the payroll beyond 75 million dollars, a number pohlad should be able to stomach considering the new Stadium in the future.