Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Flying under the radar for much of the 2008 season, the Minnesota Twins managed to rack up 88 wins and come within a game of winning the American League Central Division. Entering last season, Detroit and Cleveland were the two most popular picks to take home the AL Central title, while Minnesota was somewhat of an afterthought. After all, the Twins had parted ways with ace Johan Santana, center fielder Torii Hunter, and rock-solid starter Carlos Silva.

But something happened along the way to their expected middle-of-the-road season. The younger players stepped up, the offense gelled, and the starting rotation turned out to be one of the deeper units in the league. And after finishing the regular season tied with the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central, a one-game playoff was needed to sort out a winner. Although Chicago wound up winning, 1-0 to punch its ticket to the playoffs, the Twins sent a clear message that they're not to be taken lightly.

They finished third in the AL in team batting average (.279), fueled by emerging young stars such as Denard Span, Alexi Casilla and Carlos Gomez. The rotation was anchored by Nick Blackburn, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins, each of whom won at least 11 games, and each of whom are in their mid-20s. That's not even counting 26-year-old Francisco Liriano, now about two and a half years removed from Tommy John elbow surgery.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Minnesota Twins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 Finish (88-75) - Second Place (AL Central)

KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: 3B-Joe Crede, RHP-Luis Ayala

KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: SS-Adam Everett, LHP-Eddie Guardado, LHP-Dennys Reyes

PROJECTED LINEUP: Denard Span (LF), Alexi Casilla (2B), Joe Mauer (C), Justin Morneau (1B), Jason Kubel (DH), Michael Cuddyer (RF), Brian Buscher (3B), Nick Punto (SS), Carlos Gomez (CF)

PROJECTED ROTATION: Scott Baker (RHP), Kevin Slowey (RHP), Francisco Liriano (LHP), Nick Blackburn (RHP), Glen Perkins (LHP)

PROJECTED CLOSER: Joe Nathan (RHP)

MANAGER: Ron Gardenhire

INFIELD

Two-time AL batting champ and two-time All-Star Joe Mauer will miss Opening Day due to lingering pain and inflammation in his lower back. Mauer also had offseason surgery on December 22 to fix a blockage in one of his kidneys, although the two injuries are not related. At the moment, there is no timetable for his return, though the team does not see the situation as being long-term. But if the injury continues to linger, it would obviously be a big blow for the Twins. Mauer doesn't hit for a lot of power (only 16 HRs over the last two seasons), but he is one of the game's best contact hitters, and also one of the top defensive catchers.

First baseman Justin Morneau has established himself as one of the league's top run producers. The 2006 AL MVP finished second in the voting last season, after hitting .300 with 23 homers and 129 RBI. Over the last three seasons, Morneau has driven in an average of 123 runs. Morneau can hit to all fields, he can hit offspeed pitches, left-hander and right-handers. Perhaps most importantly, he relishes his role as team leader in the clubhouse. Morneau is often the first player to arrive at the ballpark each morning, and one of the last to leave.

Nobody in the organization was quite sure what to expect from second baseman Alexi Casilla last season. But by season's end, the 24-year-old emerged as a reliable option batting out of the No. 2 hole. Casilla played in 98 games last season, hitting .281. He seems to be most comfortable playing at home, where he posted a .314 batting average. Casilla is a solid switch hitter, though he appears to be a bit more comfortable from the left side. He has good speed, which he uses to his advantage in the field. With another year under his belt, Casilla will be expected to produce night in, night out.

Needing to fill a hole at third base, the Twins plucked Joe Crede from the Chicago White Sox to man the hot corner. Mike Lamb didn't work out last season, and Brian Buscher is more of a platoon-type player. Crede had been limited last season due to back problems and he was slow to come around during Spring Training, but he did start to heat up at the plate toward the end of March. Crede had to alter his swing a bit last year because of his back injury, which in turn forced some bad habits, but he is now able to swing freely without pain. The Twins are hopeful he can return to his 2006 form, when he hit .283 with 30 homers and 94 RBI.

Nick Punto rebounded from a disastrous 2007 season (.210) by hitting .284 in '08. As a result, he went from utility man to everyday shortstop. And this past offseason, the team inked Punto to a two-year, $8.5 million deal to keep him in that role. He played for Italy during the World Baseball Classic, though the experience wasn't exactly what he had in mind. In three games at the WBC, Punto went 1-for-12 and got pegged in the elbow by a pitch, which essentially punched his ticket back home. X-rays were negative, but Punto has had some injury problems of late. A hamstring issue landed him on the disabled list twice last season.

OUTFIELD

The Twins should have one of the top defensive outfields in the AL. And they should also have one of the deepest, considering last year's left fielder, Delmon Young, appears slated to start the season in a reserve role. That's because Denard Span filled in so admirably for an injured Michael Cuddyer last season, that he's solidified himself as the team's leadoff man and likely starting left fielder. Manager Ron Gardenhire has shifted Span all over the outfield in the spring, and that type of shuffling could continue throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Young has further clouded the situation with an impressive spring. He has also been flashing that gap-to-gap power that went missing last season. Young hit a respectable .290 last season, but the team was expecting more than 10 homers and 69 RBI. Still, Young is, well, young. He is just 23 years old, and did put up much better numbers in the second half of last season. He doesn't hit off-speed pitches all that well, and he still needs to improve his fielding.

Carlos Gomez is in line to start in center field. Gomez hit just .258 last season, but he also is just 23 and has a high ceiling. He did show more patience at the plate during Spring Training, although Gardenhire will likely pencil him in at the very bottom of the lineup to utilize Gomez's speed. His biggest asset is his defensive abilities. Gomez is very instinctive which helps him get great jumps on balls. In addition to his range, Gomez also has an above-average arm for a center fielder.

Right fielder Michael Cuddyer had three DL stints last season, and he hit just .249. From a dislocated right index finger, to a strained left index finger, to a broken foot, Cuddyer spent plenty of time in the trainer's room last season. A career .268 hitter, Cuddyer will be counted on to stay healthy and drive in runs. There was speculation in the offseason that he might switch back to third base -- where he played in 2005 -- but that notion was put to rest when the front office went out and signed Crede. Now, Cuddyer is eager to return to his old form.

STARTING ROTATION

The starting rotation is young and deep, two qualities that no big-league manager would turn away. And while the Twins may not have a bona fide No. 1 starter at the moment, they've got a stable of pitchers who know how to win.

Heading the list is Scott Baker, whom the team just signed to a four-year, $15.25 million contract in early-March. The team's "ace" is coming off a year in which he went 11-4 with a 3.45 ERA in a career-high 28 starts. At just 27 years old, Baker, who is slated to start Opening Day, is actually the oldest among the starting pitchers. Over the last two seasons, he has gone 20-13 with a 3.81 ERA and has thrown 316 innings. His fastball has some late bite, and he can throw his offspeed stuff for strikes at any time in the count.

Francisco Liriano was slow to come back from Tommy John surgery, but when he finally did, he quickly reminded Twins fans of what they had been missing. Liriano was popping the radar gun consistently in the low-90s during the second half of last season, though it's possible he could get back into the mid-90s. In his first full big-league season, Liriano burst onto the scene with a 12-3 record and a 2.16 ERA. In 14 starts last year, he went 6-4 with a 3.91 ERA, averaging nearly eight strikeouts per nine innings. Liriano has unleashed a nasty changeup in Spring Training, which has the organization buzzing.

Kevin Slowey is the type of pitcher who is never timid about going right after a hitter. That's because he can usually throw the ball wherever he wants, averaging just 1.4 walks per nine innings. He started 27 games last season, finishing 12-11 with a 3.99 ERA. Slowey's fastball only tops out at around 90 mph on a good day, but his offspeed stuff is continually improving, highlighted by a solid changeup. He has made steady progress since being roughed up in a handful of starts in his first taste of big-league action in 2007.

Another pleasant surprise last year was Nick Blackburn, who logged 200-plus innings and 11 wins in his first full season in the majors. Blackburn had arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason and, after a brief setback due to soreness in late-February, eventually worked his way back into Minnesota's spring rotation without any issues. Blackburn's fastball hovers around the low-90s and he likes to use it early to get ahead in the count, though his curveball and changeup are also reliable options for him.

One of the staff's question marks entering last season was Glen Perkins, who battled some shoulder issues in '07. But Perkins didn't miss a beat, posting a 12-4 record with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts. Now, the 26-year-old southpaw says he's ready for an even bigger workload in '09. One of his top weapons is a biting curveball, which he uses as his out pitch. Perkins generally throws in the low-90s, but he keeps hitters guessing by constantly changing speeds.

BULLPEN

Once again, the anchor of the bullpen is Joe Nathan, who remains one of the most reliable closers in the game. Last season, Nathan had a 1.33 ERA and converted 39 saves in 45 opportunities. It was the fifth straight season he has recorded at least 35 saves. Though he is getting up there in age (35), Nathan still brings a mid-90s fastball and has a sharp slider and curve. He was able to stay healthy last season, often working consecutive nights without missing a beat.

Outside of Nathan, however, the rest of the bullpen is no finished product. Setup man Pat Neshek, who appeared in just 15 games last season, underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season. Left-hander Jose Mijares broke into the majors last year with his rocket fastball, but he is still young and has had some control issues in the spring. The team signed right- hander Luis Ayala to a one-year deal in February, but his '08 numbers (2-10, 5.71 ERA) left much to be desired.

After an injury-plagued 2007 season, Jesse Crain proved himself fully recovered last year, posting a 3.59 ERA in 62.2 innings. And after a stellar spring, Crain has all but staked his claim to be the setup man. His fastball has plenty of zip, his slider is nasty, and he has a big, looping curve. The likely bridge to Crain is right-hander Matt Guerrier, who was used extensively last season. After registering a 3.05 ERA in his first 47 innings, Guerrier started to fade, finishing the season with a 5.19 ERA in 76 appearances.

BENCH

With four starting-quality outfielders, one player -- likely Young -- will be forced to the bench. On the flip side, Gardenhire has said he plans to do quite a bit of shuffling, meaning all four will ultimately get their at-bats. Also on the plus side for the team, there is obviously depth there if someone goes down with an injury.

With Mauer sidelined for the early portion of the season, veteran catcher Mike Redmond will assume the duties behind the plate. Minnesota is fortunate to have Redmond on board, as he and Mauer make up one of the best catching tandems in the league. A career .292 hitter, Redmond

Brendan Harris provides some nice infield depth, as he can play any position. He lost out to Casilla to be the team's second baseman last year. This year, he was supposed to platoon with Brian Buscher at third, before the team signed Crede. Buscher is the most likely candidate to fill in at third when Crede needs a break, which could be quite often, considering his back history and the fact that he'll be playing on turf. Buscher hit .294 with 47 RBI in 218 at- bats last season. Harris will likely be the first option to fill in at shortstop and second base.

Jason Kubel will once again be the designated hitter. Kubel was signed to a two-year deal in January, coming off perhaps his best season in the majors in which he hit .272 with 20 homers and 78 RBI. Kubel didn't quite cut it as an outfielder, but he seems to have found a home as a DH. One knock is that he struggles against lefties (.232), something he needs to continue to work on.

OUTLOOK

Every year, the Twins seem to be the forgotten team in the AL Central. And every year, they remain in contention right down to the wire. This year, however, they aren't sneaking up on anybody.

There isn't a manager across the league who'd complain if he had to switch places with Gardenhire. The starting rotation is deep, young, and poised to keep improving. Nathan is among the game's elite at the closer position. Gardenhire has a good problem to have with four starting-quality outfielders. And team leaders Mauer and Morneau lead by example.

The Twins got a small taste of the playoffs last year, albeit just one game. That has served as motivation throughout the offseason, and the team's ultimate goal for '09 is not only to make the playoffs, but to advance. The Twins have as good a shot as anybody to win the AL Central.