Axios Sports: Ranking MLB's all-time rosters (No. 19: Minnesota)

[BleedGopher]

per Axios Sports:

We're ranking the all-time rosters for all 30 MLB teams. Note: Rosters based only on time spent with this specific team. Thoughts? Email me at [email protected].

19. Minnesota Twins
This team is super deep, and the heart of the order is scary: Harmon Killebrew led the league in homers six times, Rod Carew and Joe Mauer won a combined 10 batting titles and Kirby Puckett led the league in hits four times. They're also the clubhouse leader in best names ranking. Killebrew? Kirby? Goose!?! Killer stuff.

• Year established: 1901 (as the Washington Senators)
• All-time record: 8,903-9,603 (.481)
• World Series Championships: 3
• Hall of Famers (indicated by *): 8

Starting lineup:

1. DH Chuck Knoblauch (38 bWAR with team)
2. 2B Rod Carew* (63.8)
3. C Joe Mauer (55.3)
4. 3B Harmon Killebrew* (60.5)
5. OF Kirby Puckett* (51.1)
6. OF Goose Goslin* (43)
7. SS Joe Cronin* (36.7)
8. OF Clyde Milan (40)
9. 1B Kent Hrbek (38.6)

On the mound: SP Walter Johnson* (164.5)

Bench:

• Infield: 1B Joe Judge (47.1), 3B Gary Gaetti (27.2), SS Cecil Travis (30), C Earl Battey (17.6)
• Outfield: Tony Oliva (43.1), Sam Rice* (52.9), Bob Allison (34.1)
• Utility: Buddy Myer (41.9), Torii Hunter (26.4)
• Rotation: Bert Blyleven* (50.4), Jim Kaat (35.6), Johan Santana (36.1), Jim Perry (28.7)
• Bullpen: Joe Nathan (18.4), Rick Aguilera (10), Firpo Marberry (25.4)

Additional notes:

• Johnson's career was pure lunacy. He ranks second only to Babe Ruth (182.5) in total WAR (164.5), tossed an MLB record 110 shutouts and one-sixth of his career starts ended in a complete game shutout.
• Kaat was a quiet assassin on the mound. He was a strong pitcher, sure, but for someone who isn't exactly a household name, he amassed the second-most Gold Gloves ever (16, tied with Brooks Robinson, behind Greg Maddux's 18).

Win Twins!!