Five potential Twins offseason targets

Last update: November 12, 2008 - 11:25 PM

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HELP WANTED

The Twins' top offseason priority is finding help for the left side of their infield. The most likely means of improvement is via a trade, because of the players most likely to be pursued by the Twins, only Casey Blake is a free agent. Here are five potential offseason targets:

1 Casey Blake, 3B: Of the top 25 free agents, this Iowa native is the only one the Twins seem to view as a potential fit. He's 35, but he's been very durable for the past six years.

2 J.J. Hardy, SS: The Brewers have yet to say they'll trade him, but teams have asked about him, and the Twins are in line.

3 Yunel Escobar, SS: The Twins have always liked him, and the Braves reportedly included him in their offers for Padres pitcher Jake Peavy.

4 Garrett Atkins, 3B: The Rockies are shopping him because he's two years from free agency, but he has struggled to hit away from Coors Field.

5 Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B: The Padres would rather trade shortstop Khalil Greene, but Kouzmanoff is interesting, especially in how well he's hit away from Petco Park.

JOE CHRISTENSEN

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