2008 Minnesota Twins season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Minnesota Twins
season = 2008
misc =

current league = American League
y1 = 1901
division = Central Division
y2 = 1994
Uniform
ballpark = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
y4 = 1982
city = Minneapolis, Minnesota
y5 = 1961
owners = Carl Pohlad
managers = Ron Gardenhire
television = FSN North
WFTC (My 29)
radio = AM 1500 KSTP
espntn = min
brtn = MIN|

The by|2008 Minnesota Twins season is the 48th season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 108th overall in the American League.

Offseason and spring training

Player and personnel moves

General Manager for the previous 13 years, Terry Ryan stepped down into the role of Senior Advisor in September 2007 and was replaced by Bill Smith, formerly the assistant general manager. Scouting director Mike Radcliff was named vice president of player personnel and director of baseball operations Rob Antony was named assistant GM [ [http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/11700821.html Twins: Ryan steps down, Smith will take over ] ] .

The offseason between the 2007 and 2008 seasons saw many rumors surrounding pitcher Johan Santana, but little action until shortly before the start of spring training. Typically standing still in the off-season, the Twins made some waves late November when they traded Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Eduardo Morlan to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for power-hitting outfielder Delmon Young, scrappy infielder Brendan Harris and former Twin Jason Pridie.

Prior to the Rays trade, the Twins traded for outfielder Craig Monroe of the Chicago Cubs. Monroe would later sign with the Twins and would be placed on the major league roster soon after. Monroe joined several others including Adam Everett and Mike Lamb as those new to the team who made the 2008 Opening Day roster.

On January 18, 2008, the Twins avoided arbitration with three current players: Jason Kubel, Justin Morneau and Juan Rincon. Rincon and Kubel were signed through 2008, while Morneau and Michael Cuddyer were signed to extended contracts. [cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/14355301.html |title=Morneau, Cuddyer sign up |accessdate=2008-04-30 |author=La Velle E. Neal III |date=2007-01-26 |publisher=Minneapolist Star Tribune]

The Twins also saw several players depart via free agency, roster management and trade. The Twins also released players Jason Tyner, Chris Heintz, Lew Ford, Josh Rabe and Matthew LeCroy.

Minnesota lost Carlos Silva via free agency, signing with the Seattle Mariners for a four-year contract. Silva was a starting pitcher for the Twins in recent years after coming over in the Eric Milton trade.

The Twins also lost perennial Gold Glove center fielder and fan favorite Torii Hunter in free agency, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for five years and $90 million.

The Twins traded ace Johan Santana to the New York Mets for four prospects: OF Carlos Gomez and pitchers Kevin Mulvey, Philip Humber, and Deolis Guerra.

pring training

The Twins, as per long-standing tradition [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080209&content_id=2369718&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: New faces mark start of Twins camp ] ] were the last team to begin spring training on February 17th, 2008.

On March 27, the Twins announced they had finished signing their entire 40-man roster. [ [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080227&content_id=2392295&vkey=pr_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: Official Info: Twins sign 16 players to 2008 contracts ] ]

Pitcher Francisco Liriano was unable to report to camp on time due to visa problems [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080215&content_id=2374905&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Notes: Liriano to be late to camp ] ] . Shortly before the start of the season, Liriano was sent down to the minor leagues to continue his development. [ [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080328&content_id=2463419&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=min The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: News: Liriano won't break camp with Twins ] ]

Gomez beat out center field prospects Denard Span and Jason Pridie for the starting job. [ [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=2455392&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=min The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: News: Gomez wins center-field job ] ]

The team re-signed closer Joe Nathan to a four-year contract on March 24. [ [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=2454740&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=min The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: News: Nathan staying put in Twin Cities ] ]

Regular season

Notable events

On May 7, 2008, Carlos Gómez hit for the cycle against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. He became the fourth major leaguer and second in Twins history to hit for the reverse natural cycle. He also became the third-youngest player to hit for the cycle in MLB history. [Willis, Ken. [http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Columnists/MyTwoCents/colHEY042008.htm Hey Willie! Best Style is Winning] . news-journalonline.com. 20 April 2008.]

During the 2008 campaign, the Twins sent three representatives to the 2008 MLB All Star game: Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathan. Morneau went on to win the home run derby [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/15/AR2008071500875.html] and score the winning run in the 15th inning of the All-Star game. [ [http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/25488869.html Morneau scores AL game winner ] ]

eason standings

Record vs. Opponents

Game log