![Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) hit a double in the bottom of the first inning. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins verses Detroit Tigers on October 1, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/M77MPH4MD7TYA455KXJYARIVXY.jpg?&w=1080)
Remembrances of Twins teams in the 2000s tend to highlight their rags-to-riches — or contraction-to-contention — rise, so it's easy to forget their star power.
Those teams featured Johan Santana, who would win two Cy Young Awards; Joe Mauer, who would win three batting titles and an MVP; Justin Morneau, who would earn an MVP; four different Gold Glove winners; and aging notables such as Jim Thome.
The 2017 Twins are remindful not so much of the late-2000s Twins but of the 2001 and 2002 teams that had not yet developed accomplished stars.
As the franchise returns to the postseason on Tuesday in New York, the Twins have only one current position-player All-Star, Miguel Sano, and he missed most of the last six weeks of the season with an injury. For the first time since 2017, the most valuable Twin is not he who would bring most in a trade.
So who is the Twins' 2017 MVP?
Ervin Santana? He may be the most important Twin. He provided the best pitching and the most innings for a pitching staff that otherwise spent the season in a desperate search for competence, in the rotation and the bullpen.
Byron Buxton? For a pitching staff that always seemed on the verge of collapse, Buxton saved innumerable runs, which in turn saved wear and tear on valuable arms, and developed into a dynamic baserunner and streaky power hitter.
Sano? He would have won the award had it been given in mid-August. Before his injury, he was the Twins' most important bat while proving adept enough in the field to remain at third base, which allowed Joe Mauer to remain at first base, where he performed like a Gold Glover.
