Minnesota Twins

Michael Pineda will miss the first 36 games of the MLB regular season due to his drug suspension. He was originally going to miss the first 39 games of the 2020 campaign. (Source: Star Tribune Sports on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Pineda was suspended 80 games in September for taking a banned substance. It was reduced down to 60, but now he will only have to miss the first 36 games of the 2020 campaign. Pineda will only make a couple of starts in the shortened season and would only be worth using as a streamer towards end of the year.

Nelson Cruz told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he does not plan to retire after the 2020 season. (Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Fantasy Impact: Why would he? The 40-year-old slugger had one of the best seasons of his career in 2019, belting 41 homers and hitting .311 in just 120 games. “I don’t see it [soon]," Cruz said. "A lot of people who retire from baseball do it because injuries start to come. They kill you during the game, and you don’t want to be in pain. You start to not perform the way you used to, and the game takes you out. But my body is in good shape, and I’m doing everything I can to keep it that way. Why would I retire?”

Top prospect Alex Kirilloff was included in the Twins' 60-man roster for the 2020 season. (Source: Minnesota Twins on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kirilloff will be a member of Minnesota's taxi squad as MLB teams appear to be using the roster space to continue developing their top prospects. The 22-year-old outfielder dealt with injuries in 2019 but is expected to be ready for the bigs sometime in 2021. Kirilloff was the club's first-round draft choice back in 2016, one year before the team took Royce Lewis first overall.

Top prospect Royce Lewis was included in the Twins' 60-man roster for the 2020 season. (Source: Minnesota Twins on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Like many MLB teams the Twins are using the taxi squad as a means to continue developing their top prospects. Lewis, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 draft, would likely need a couple of injuries to get a chance in the majors this season. He should be considered a good bet to start contributing in 2021, however.

3B Miguel Sano has been cleared of kidnapping accusations and no charges have been filed. He will report to spring training on time. (Source: Dan Hayes on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Sano and his three friends were accused of kidnapping, beating, and threatening someone during an incident last month. He has been cleared of all charges and will report to spring training on time. Sano signed a three-year $30 million contract this off-season and should see everyday at bats rotating between 1B/3B and DH. He slashed .247/.346/.576 with 34 homers, 74 RBI and 76 runs scored across 439 plate appearances in 2019. The 27-year-old 3B has plenty of fantasy upside and is currently 140th overall among all players in the latest expert consensus rankings.

The Minnesota Twins have signed their first-round pick 1B Aaron Sabato to a $2.75 million contract. (Source: Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Fantasy Impact: The 27th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft crushed 18 homers for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2019. He will most likely split time at 1B/DH in the majors. Sabato has 70-grade power and 30-homer upside. He should provide above-average run production once he gets called up to the big leagues.

Rich Hill (elbow) expects to be ready when spring training resumes. (Source: Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Fantasy Impact: Hill continues to rehab from off-season elbow surgery, but doesn't expect to miss time. Before the MLB season was delayed, it was reported that Hill would return in June. Hill has been able to throw during the off-season and should be all systems go by the time spring training resumes. “(I’ve) been able to make the most out of the situation so I’m right where I should be as far as rehab progression-wise, so if we do have a season, I should be ready to go when we kick off something of a spring training,” said Hill. The 40-year-old owned a (4-1) record with a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 72:18 K:BB across 58 2/3 innings for the Dodgers in 2019. Hill is currently 126th among all pitchers in the latest expert consensus rankings.

Byron Buxton (shoulder) is expected to be ready whenever the season begins. (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: Buxton had shoulder surgery last September and didn't play in any Grapefruit League games before spring training came to a halt. The former top prospect should not be written off in fantasy drafts moving forward. He showed as much promise in 2019 as he ever had in his big league career.

Minnesota Twins infielder Jack Reinheimer went 1-for-1 with a run and a steal in a 3-2 spring loss to the Braves on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Reinheimer signed a minor-league deal with the Twins back in December after spending all of 2019 with Baltimore's Triple-A team. He is hitting just .105 this spring.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jose Berrios allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings of work in a 3-2 spring loss to the Braves on Wednesday. He struck out five in the outing.

Fantasy Impact: Berrios was named the team's Opening Day starter earlier in the day. He now has a 2.89 ERA this spring. Berrios is a top-20 pitching option in the American League this season.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Randy Dobnak allowed two runs over four innings of work in a spring start on Monday.

Fantasy Impact: Dobnak struck out two and walked two. He now has a 2.70 ERA as he makes a case to be the team's No. 5 starter out of camp.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda threw four scoreless innings in a 7-6 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday. Maeda struck out six and gave up just two hits in the start.

Fantasy Impact: So far, so good for Maeda with his new club. The veteran right-hander has a 2.08 ERA through three Grapefruit League starts. Maeda is shaping up as an interesting name in fantasy leagues this season.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson went 2-for-3 with a double in a 7-6 spring training loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Donaldson is having a solid spring, hitting .316 with three doubles. The veteran star should have a huge year hitting in the middle of a loaded Minnesota lineup.

Minnesota Twins left-hander Devin Smeltzer struggled in a 7-6 win over the Tigers on Saturday. Smeltzer allowed five runs over three innings while striking out two.

Fantasy Impact: Smeltzer has had a rough spring, posting an 8.68 ERA. His poor performance this spring will likely lead to him opening the season at Triple-A Rochester.

Max Kepler went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Friday's win over Tampa Bay.

Fantasy Impact: Kepler led off the contest, and seems to be over the back injury that was nagging him earlier in the year. The 27-year-old is coming off a 90 RBI season, and should be primed for another quality year.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Homer Bailey allowed just one run over three innings in a 3-3 tie with the Orioles on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Bailey struck out two in the contest. He is having a solid spring, posting a 1.80 ERA. The veteran will be on the streaming radar in fantasy leagues to open the season.

Minnesota Twins second baseman Marwin Gonzalez went 2-for-2 with a double, a homer, and three RBI in a 5-1 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact: Gonzalez notched his first spring double and homer in the win. The versatile utility man should play all over the diamond for Minnesota this season.

Jorge Polanco served as the DH and went 2-for-3 with a double in his 2020 spring debut for the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: Shortstop is a deep position in fantasy this year, but batting near the top of a powerful lineup should allot him plenty of scoring opportunities. The 26-year-old switch-hitter could finish as a top-10 option at his position.

Trevor Larnach went 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored on Tuesday versus the Atlanta Braves.

Fantasy Impact: Larnach, the 2018 first-round draft pick for the Twins, launched a 400+ foot home run off Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz. The 22-year-old will likely spend the 2020 season in the minors, but the ability to hit for average with some pop is clearly evident.

Sergio Romo is dealing with a minor shoulder strain and will be held out of action for a few days. (Source: Do-Hyoung Park on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Twins reportedly aren't worried in the slightest. Expect to see Romo back on the field soon. He is expected to begin the year as a setup man for Taylor Rogers.