By John Manuel
January 24, 2008

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Nick Blackburn, rhp 2. Joe Benson, of 3. Wilson Ramos, c 4. Tyler Robertson, lhp 5. Anthony Swarzak, rhp 6. Ben Revere, of 7. Jason Pridie, of 8. Brian Duensing, lhp 9. Jeff Manship, rhp 10. Trevor Plouffe, ss

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Ben Revere Best Power Hitter Danny Rams Best Strike-Zone Discipline Brian Dinkelman Fastest Baserunner Ben Revere Best Athlete Joe Benson Best Fastball Nick Blackburn Best Curveball Mike McCardell Best Slider Tyler Robertson Best Changeup Brian Duensing Best Control Nick Blackburn Best Defensive Catcher Wilson Ramos Best Defensive Infielder Deibinson Romero Best Infield Arm Deibinson Romero Best Defensive Outfielder Jason Pridie Best Outfield Arm Angel Morales

PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP

Catcher Joe Mauer First Base Justin Morneau Second Base Alexi Casilla Third Base Brendan Harris Shortstop Trevor Plouffe Left Field Michael Cuddyer Center Field Joe Benson Right Field Delmon Young Designated Hitter Jason Kubel No. 1 Starter Johan Santana No. 2 Starter Franciso Liriano No. 3 Starter Kevin Slowey No. 4 Starter Nick Blackburn No. 5 Starter Scott Baker Closer Joe Nathan

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Luis Rivas, ss Indians 1999 Michael Cuddyer, 3b Twins 2000 Michael Cuddyer, 3b Twins 2001 Adam Johnson, rhp Out of baseball 2002 Joe Mauer, c Twins 2003 Joe Mauer, c Twins 2004 Joe Mauer, c Twins 2005 Joe Mauer, c Twins 2006 Francisco Liriano, lhp Twins 2007 Matt Garza, rhp Twins

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Ryan Mills, lhp Out of baseball 1999 B.J. Garbe, of Out of baseball 2000 Adam Johnson, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Joe Mauer, c Twins 2002 Denard Span, of Twins 2003 Matt Moses, 3b Twins 2004 Trevor Plouffe, ss Twins 2005 Matt Garza, rhp Twins 2006 Chris Parmelee, of/1b Twins 2007 Ben Revere, of Twins

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Joe Mauer, 2001 $5,150,000 B.J. Garbe, 1999 $2,750,000 Adam Johnson, 2000 $2,500,000 Ryan Mills, 1998 $2,000,000 Michael Cuddyer, 1997 $1,850,000

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Adecade that had been rolling along smoothly suddenly threw the Twins off course in 2007.

For the first time since being a contraction candidate in the winter of 2000-01, Minnesota finished with a losing record. Starting in late August, the Twins lost 10 of 12 games, fell completely out of the American League playoff chase and never got over .500 after Sept. 4. The offense ranked 12th in the league in scoring despite a career year by Torii Hunter, who signed with the Angels as a free agent after the season.

A first-round pick in 1993, Hunter wasn't the longest-tenured Twin to leave his job. Club employees were asked to come to a morning meeting Sept. 12, and most didn't know what to expect. Many wept with sadness and surprise when told general manager Terry Ryan was stepping aside after 13 seasons. Ryan cited burnout and stress for wanting to accept his new role as senior adviser to his successor, former assistant GM Bill Smith. Ryan will be one of Minnesota's top talent evaluators in a role one club official called "GM Lite."

Smith's ascension had a domino effect. One of those promoted was Mike Radcliff, the longest-tenured scouting director in the industry, who as vice president of player personnel effectively becomes Minnesota's top talent evaluator (along with Ryan) on the pro side as well as the amateur draft. West Coast crosschecker Deron Johnson succeed Radcliff as scouting director.

Smith and Co. had work to do and got right to it. The Twins moved to improve their offense in late November, dealing Matt Garza (No. 1 on this list a year ago), Jason Bartlett and pitching prospect Eduardo Morlan to Tampa Bay for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and outfield prospect Jason Pridie. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft, Young was the key piece for Minnesota with his superstar potential.

The acquisitions of Harris and Pridie were important as well, because first-round picks Denard Span (2002) and Matt Moses (2003) were supposed to be ready for big league jobs by now, yet are far from ready. Either Harris or veteran free agent Mike Lamb should take the third-base job that the Twins once envisioned going to Moses, who wasn't protected on the 40-man roster after the season. Pridie, who almost made Minnesota's 2006 roster as a Rule 5 draft pick, will get the chance to replace Hunter in center field because Span hit a soft .267 in Triple-A.

Minnesota has had more success of late drafting and developing pitchers than hitters. That's a trend it hopes to reverse with 2007 first-rounder Ben Revere, the seventh high school position player it has chosen with its first pick in the last nine drafts.

The Young-Garza trade can't be Smith's last bold move, though. The Twins have Johan Santana and Joe Nathan—arguably the best starter and best closer in the game—signed through 2008 but no longer. Despite a new ballpark scheduled to arrive in 2010, Minnesota still lacks the financial commitment from owner Carl Pohlad to keep both players, not to mention Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau once they approach free agency.

Santana rejected a four-year, $80 million offer from the Twins, spurring trade talks that dominated the Winter Meetings. Minnesota's eventual resolution with Santana likely will set the course for the franchise for the rest of the decade.

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