The Defensive Dilemma

In Defensive Efficiency (a measure of how many balls in play are converted into outs), the Twins rank 29th out of 30 MLB clubs, with only the Rangers -- who lost their 92nd game on Thursday -- behind them.

There are some blatantly bad fielders on the Minnesota roster. For Oswaldo Arcia, the statistics agree with the eye-test: he's a complete liability in either outfield corner. Josmil Pinto was sent to the minors in June almost solely because of his deficiencies behind the plate, and even when in Triple-A he was hardly a regular at catcher. Danny Santana is considered somewhat rough at shortstop, but has had almost no opportunity to refine his game there this year.

Looking ahead to 2015, the Twins' question marks defensively are painfully obvious, and yet herein lies the problem: The same names mentioned above are also talented young hitters who will be critical to sustaining the team's aforementioned offensive improvement.

Think about Trevor Plouffe. He was a mess defensively during his first couple seasons in the majors, first at shortstop and then at third. But this year, at age 28, he has made noticeable improvements that have been acknowledged by his coaches and backed up by fielding metrics.

It's just one example of a player making meaningful strides with his glove over time, and it's not that rare. It is too soon to give up on 25-and-under guys like Pinto and Arcia being adequate fielders long-term.

However, the Twins have got to get better at preventing runs in a hurry. This is the fourth straight season in which they've allowed too much scoring to even have a chance at competing, and that has to stop.

But how do the Twins balance the desperate need to improve defensively with their coinciding reliance on these potent young bats? Kennys Vargas, at 23, is already essentially relegated to DH duty given his lack of value in the field, so hiding another hitter there isn't really an option unless he's traded.

Maybe that's the answer: Seek to trade a one or two of these plodding sluggers, replacing them with more able defenders. But it seems weird for a retooling team to be dealing away promising, internally developed young talents. I don't think I'd advocate that.

To be honest, I'm flummoxed. I hate the thought of another bottom-tier defensive unit next year, making the already difficult task of bringing this pitching staff up to snuff substantially more challenging. Yet, I have no desire to give up on MLB-caliber young hitters like Pinto, Arcia, Vargas and Santana.

What it might come down to is hoping that some of these guys rapidly develop in the field -- they're at an age and experience level where that can happen.

At the same time, the pitchers have got to miss more bats and reduce pressure on the defensive unit. There's no question that the Twins' fielding issues have been magnified to a tremendous degree by a staff that is constantly putting the ball in play; this is their fourth straight year ranking last in the league in strikeout rate.

That simply has to change, or the ridiculous runs-allowed totals will not.