Twins Must Clear Infield Logjam Quickly

It is a rare thing when fans and analysts across Twins Territory reach a consensus on any subject, but we seem to have that on the issue of Sano's defensive position. The hazardous experiment of trotting him into the outfield needs to end, and really, it needs to happen as soon as he comes off the disabled list.

Plouffe might miss a little time with a groin strain that he suffered on Thursday, and Byung-Ho Park may be in line for a demotion to Triple-A. These would potentially create short-term openings for Sano to escape from right field, but only that. Trading Plouffe and permanently opening the hot corner for the big young slugger should be a high priority for Terry Ryan right now.

Unfortunately, that is just one of several predicaments that the general manager and his staff must untangle. While calls for change are rising in volume, Ryan is still in charge and this is his chance to make some smart moves and establish a clear plan for the roster going forward. But his task is not easy.

Presently, it looks like Eduardo Nunez is going to be Minnesota's lone All-Star Game representative, even though he doesn't have a regular position. Nunez is already 29 and probably not a part of the long-term plan, but he should be playing regularly, if only on the basis of merit and bolstering trade value.

Yet, we've already discussed the clogged situation at third base, and I can't see any good argument for starting Nunez over either of the middle infielders. Eduardo Escobar has clearly established himself as a better shortstop over the past couple of seasons, and he has been on an absolute tear in June, entering Thursday's game with a .394/.417/.727 line. He should be playing every day.

Brian Dozier, too, has gotten it going after a slow start. Since being benched for a couple of days at the height of his slump in late May, the second baseman has rebounded tremendously, reaching base in 26 of 27 games and raising his OPS by 140 points.

Even though Nunez lacks a true home on the field, Paul Molitor has found ways to keep him in the lineup, so it's not a big deal. The real problem is Jorge Polanco. The heralded 22-year-old prospect has shown promising signs whenever he's gotten a chance to play in the majors, with an .861 OPS and excellent plate discipline, but those chances have been few and far between, because the Twins can't find a place for him.

Since his latest demotion to Triple-A, which coincided with Escobar's return from a hamstring injury, Polanco has hit .310/.372/.513. It continues to be blatantly obvious that he doesn't belong in the minors, especially when you consider that the Twins are running out of opportunities to send him there. This is Polanco's last option year, so next spring he'll either need to be carried on the MLB roster or lost to another club. The last thing this team wants is another Oswaldo Arcia situation, where they have to give up a former top prospect for basically nothing.

Clearing out this logjam is undoubtedly going to require trading players away. But outside of Plouffe, these guys all have value that makes it difficult to justify losing them with no significant return. So in the scope of this rebuild, Ryan needs to find good opportunities and strike.

Maybe Nunez will interest a contender as a versatile glove with a quality bat. Perhaps Escobar's hot streak, combined with his strong play over the past two years, will convince some team that he could be their answer at shortstop (though it's not clear that either Nunez or Polanco can play the position sufficiently). Heck, now that he has rebounded, maybe Dozier will draw some suitors, though I have my doubts about Ryan's willingness to give him up barring a huge return.

Adding Polanco to any package – say, with Plouffe – could spice up the return. It seems counterintuitive for a team in Minnesota's position to be unloading prospects, but Polanco's option status makes this another instance where the Twins simply cannot afford to be patient and wait for his opportunity to arise.

This much is certain, Ryan needs to be proactive and take action. The trade deadline is about five weeks away.

If you were in the GM's shoes, what would be your approach as we head into July?