AL Central Notes: Twins not in on Pedro Alvarez, Royals could improve farm system

Though Pedro Alvarez could be a candidate to join the Twins, Minnesota hasn’t contacted Alvarez about a potential deal, according to FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman.

Alvarez didn’t have the best 2016 season with regard to average, as he hit just .249/.322/.504, but he also posted 22 home runs and 49 RBIs over 109 games.

The market for Alvarez never completely developed this spring, but his 2016 0.7 WAR might be attractive to a team this spring.

Here’s the latest from around the American League West:

• It seems Yan Gomes is set to open the season as Cleveland’s starting catcher, but it might have been more beneficial for the team to hold a competition.

• Justin Verlander says there should be more PED testing throughout the league, which probably isn’t an awful idea.

• The Royals don’t have one of the better farm systems in the game, but that could change relatively quickly.

• Lucas Giolito wasn’t great in his first White Sox outing, though it is still pretty early to make judgements.

• Apparently the Twins tried to acquire Jose Iglesias but it didn’t end up working out.