With OF Josh Willingham added to the fold to go along with Jamey Carroll and Ryan Doumit, let’s take a look at the Minnesota Twins’ projected starting lineup come Opening Day 2012.

1. Denard Span, CF

2. Jamey Carroll, SS

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Josh Willingham, LF

6. Ryan Doumit, DH

7. Danny Valencia, 3B

8. Alexi Casilla, 2B

9. Ben Revere, RF

One through six is pretty solid, but of course that’s only if Mauer and Morneau return to form. If those two only play in a combined 151 games like they did last year, the Twins will be in serious trouble.

I really like Doumit in the sixth-hole in this lineup. Maybe I am higher on him than most people, but 15-20 HR’s wouldn’t be out of the question. Again, just like with Morneau and Mauer, Doumit is a big-time injury risk. He could play in 145 games or he could play in 70.

The Twins are going to be one of the hardest teams to make a prediction on prior to the 2012 season because so much of their success is going to be wrapped up in health. Naturally, the same could be said for most every team in baseball, but four of the Twins top six offensive players are health risks.

If all these guys are healthy, then a return to the top of the American League central is not out of the question. If they go through the same injury nonsense as they did in 2011, they are toast.

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By The Baseball Index