GM Terry Ryan says he wants someone to push Trevor Plouffe at 3B. Yet no one has been signed as a FA for this purpose. No one has been received in trade for this.
Assuming no one is signed before ST, that leaves just those on the 40-man roster, or those on the invite list.
Let's look at the likely candidates to play 3B:
** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *BA/OBP/SLG/OPS
Trevor Plouffe * * * * * *3 years * .231/.295/.423/.718
Jamey Carrol * * * * *11 years * *.276/.354/.344/.698
Eduardo Escobar * *1 year * * * .217/.278/.261/.539
Other infielders on the 40-man roster have little or no experience at 3B.
Among those on the Invite list:
** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * level * * * * BA/OBP/SLG/OPS
Chris Colabello * * * *AA * * * * .284/.358/.478/.836
Ray Olmedo * * * * * *AAA * * * .271/.321/.354/.675
Deibinson Romero *AA * * * * *.262/.343/.427/.769
Mark Sobolewski * * AA * * * * .267/.310/.419/.729
Please note: Romero and Sobolewski are the only ones that are primarily 3B. Sobolewski also played 23 games at AAA last year, but batted only .188.
Olmedo is primarily a SS, playing also 2B and 3B. He has 114 games split between the minors and major leagues.
Colabello, who arguably has the best hitting ability, is probably the worst fielder at 3B among the group; he has 115 games at 3B in the minor leagues. Escobar has about 42 games' experience – total – in the minors and MLB as a 3B.
Of course, Plouffe himself has about 171 games, total, at 3B. Jamey Carroll has the most major league experience – with 269 games at 3B. Romero has lots of experience at 3B in the minor leagues – 519 games. Sobolewski has 416 games at 3B in the minor leagues. Brian Dozier has 20 minor league games' experience at 3B – but only 1 at AA, and 2 at A+.
What's a little scary to me is the lack of experience at 3B (minors or majors) among the 40-man roster candidates. Think about it: Escobar and those on the invite list start the season in the minors. Carroll starts a game at 3B, gets pinch-hit for by Plouffe, and Plouffe gets injured. Who takes over at 3B for the rest of the game?
We all know Manager Gardenhire likes to have three catchers on the 25-man roster. But this would leave the team with only two people with experience at 3B.
Meanwhile, for example, if the Twins have Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe and Carroll they would have at least three who can play 2B. Again, Carroll has the most experience.
All of this points to my conclusion that – all other things equal in spring training – Ray Olmedo is the best person to bring up as the extra infielder, the one to challenge Plouffe. *He has decent stats at AAA. He can play 2B, 3B and SS. He gives Gardenhire more options at all three positions. I think he's better than Escobar at this point.
What do you think?
