MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — n annual $23 million allocation from Minnesota’s payroll and the free agent market remains wide open with spring training just a week away.Now Eddie Rosario Jersey , though, is not the time for the Twins to spend. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine of the front office are instead focused on pushing several underperforming young players for more.Don’t mistake the upcoming season for a teardown, not with Nelson Cruz as the offseason acquisition on a $14 million salary, but the Twins aren’t exactly on the verge of a World Series. Their relatively quiet winter said as much, along with the hiring of 37-year-old Rocco Baldelli as the youngest manager in the major leagues.“Buying wins just through free agency is a little bit of fool’s gold,” Falvey said. “You need to invest in the group that you have, and I feel really good about ours.”That starts with center fielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano, the long-linked duo of 25-year-olds that has a long way to go to reach franchise cornerstone status. Both players had a particularly rough 2018 season, a setback that, fair or not, contributed to the firing of manager Paul Molitor after a 78-84 finish.One of the first items on Baldelli’s to-do list was to travel to the Atlanta area and the Dominican Republic to start getting to know Buxton and Sano.“Just getting down there and spending just a little bit of time and having a meal and giving them the chance to talk about the things that they want to talk about, I think, was very important,” Baldelli said.With Cruz, C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop, the Twins have added three players who’ve each hit the 30-homer mark within the past two seasons. Cron also came with an established relationship with Baldelli, who came from the coaching staff with Tampa Bay Robbie Grossman Jersey , where Cron played in 2018.“Rocco’s the man,” Cron said. “I have nothing but good things to say about him.”The first pitchers and catchers workout is set for Feb. 14 in Fort Myers, Florida.NEW LOOKCron will replace Mauer at first base. Schoop will take over at second base for Brian Dozier, one of the seven veterans traded last summer in the dismantling triggered by a disappointing start that saw the Twins fall to 12 games out of first place by the Fourth of July. The addition of Cruz ought to make the biggest impact. The six-time All-Star, who will serve as the primary designated hitter, averaged 41 home runs over the last five seasons. The 38-year-old was targeted for his presence in the clubhouse, too, which could prove particularly helpful for his fellow Dominican, Sano.ROOKIES TO WATCHDespite the focus on developing players, the Twins are not actually that young. They probably won’t have any position players under 25 on the opening day roster. All-Star Jose Berrios, who is 24, is the only significant player in that age bracket. Thus, no legitimate 2019 American League Rookie of the Year candidates will be in camp.Two of the organization’s top prospects, however, will be there as non-roster invitees: shortstop Royce Lewis and outfielder Alex Kirilloff. Lewis, the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, and Kirilloff Kyle Gibson Jersey , the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft, each finished last season with Class A Cedar Rapids.THEY’RE SETTwins starters were only 22nd in MLB with a collective 4.54 ERA last year, but the rotation looks stable. Berrios, Kyle Gibson and Jake Odorizzi each made 32 starts last season, with Odorizzi carrying the strongest potential for improvement after a career-worst 4.49 ERA in his first year in Minnesota. Though injuries limited him in several seasons, recent signee Martin Perez first cracked the rotation with Texas in 2012. Michael Pineda, who sat out last year to complete the rehab of his elbow following Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, has 687 strikeouts in 680 career innings and will make a guaranteed $8 million.THEY’RE NOTThe most unsettled spot is the closer role. Newcomer Blake Parker handled that last season for the Los Angeles Angels, and Trevor Hildenberger, Trevor May and Taylor Rogers each recorded saves after Fernando Rodney was traded last summer. Addison Reed has the most ninth-inning experience. Those five relievers are near-locks for the opening day roster, but there are still two or three bullpen spots open.ON DECKIf Buxton can get back into a groove, Max Kepler can increase his power and 2018 team MVP award winner Eddie Rosario can pick up where he left off last summer, the Twins would boast one of the most skilled outfield trios in baseball. Baldelli’s moves will be worth watching over the coming weeks, too, for clues about how the bullpen and the lineup will be arranged leading up to the season opener on March 28 against Cleveland. No guarantees, but it all checks out."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Tigers AnalysisDetroit Tigers Prospect NotebookDetroit Tigers Game ThreadsDetroit Tigers NewsDetroit Tigers PodcastsDetroit Tigers NewsTigers may preview their Opening Day lineup against the Yankees todayNew,55commentsNo guarantees Logan Morrison Jersey , but it all checks out.ESTShareTweetShareShareTigers may preview their Opening Day lineup against the Yankees todayReinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsWhen the Tigers welcome the New York Yankees into Lakeland this afternoon at 1:05pm ET, there is a little extra intrigue involved. Yes, Michael Fulmer will toe the bump for his first Grapefruit League start of the season. Yes, new second baseman, Josh Harrison, will make his debut in a Tigers’ uniform. We should also get another look at Casey Mize and Kyle Funkhouser, as they are available today in relief. These are important points, and well worth watching. But they’re all just pieces in the larger puzzle, and the Tigers’ scheduled lineup today looks suspiciously like the one fans can expect on Opening Day.Despite the projected weakness of this offense in 2019, it’s a bit of a treat to see Christin Stewart, Nicholas Castellanos, and Miguel Cabrera all in a row, with Jeimer Candelario capping a pretty decent front five. Josh Harrison gets the nod in the leadoff spot, while Niko Goodrum is taking on the designated hitter duties in the sixth slot. Jordy Mercer, Grayson Greiner, and JaCoby Jones round out the order as the defensive specialists at the back of the line. It’s not pretty folks, but it’s the hand we’ve been dealt.The players themselves are essentially locks to start for the Tigers this season Orlando Arcia Jersey , so take it for what this is, a likely preview of the 2019 Tigers’ lineup. There are some bones to pick, however. The Tigers clearly expect Harrison to bounce back from the .293 on base percentage he posted in 2018, but even so, the former Pirate holds a pretty pedestrian .317 mark for his career. Not really ideal in the leadoff spot. Harrison does have experience and some speed and base stealing ability, however, so he may well be their best option.Christin Stewart batting second is also something of an interesting choice. With two switch hitters who show decent ability to get on base in Candelario and Goodrum, you’d think one of them would be in the Tigers’ top two spots. Goodrum posted a similar on base percentage to Harrison’s career mark last season, and packs a little more power and speed. Instead, Ron Gardenhire has stacked a little more power up front, with Stewart’s left-handed thump breaking up a string of right-handed hitters, and presumably prefers Harrison’s experience leading off the order as opposed to Goodrum. Getting your most powerful bats to the plate as often as possible makes sense, so we approve of Stewart’s placement in the order.Things could certainly be shuffled around, and you’d expect Gardenhire to tinker and experiment with the lineup over the next five weeks. These nine guys probably won’t start together consistently until the regular season nears. But take a good long look today Tigers fans. However things shake out, this is very likely your Opening Day lineup for 2019.