FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Twins travel to Port Charlotte today to face the Rays, but they'll do it with two fewer outfielders than planned.
Max Kepler was optioned to Class AAA Rochester this morning, and Ryan Sweeney was released from his minor-league contract, leaving the Twins with seven outfielders one week before they break camp.
Kepler was told in his meeting with manager Paul Molitor and general manager Terry Ryan that he will work at four different positions for the Red Wings — first base and all three outfield spots — in hopes of giving the Twins multiple options when an opening occurs on the major league team. He has never played a game at Triple-A, so he was always a long shot to make the Twins. But the fact that he remained in camp so long is a reflection of how much his talent intrigues Molitor.
Kepler went 7-for-30 (.233) this spring with no extra-base hits.
Sweeney was released from his minor-league contract after it became clear he wasn't going to make the team, and the eight-year veteran was grateful for the opportunity the Twins gave him to prove, after sitting out the 2015 season, that his career isn't over. "They did it 10 days before camp is over, so that's nice of them to do it," Sweeney said. "They said, 'We didn't think it would be fair to you to send you to Triple-A and not be able to play every day, because we've got a lot of guys. I understood. They gave me a good shot — I got 40 at-bats, that's a good opportunity."
Sweeney went 10-for-37 (.270) with four doubles in his quest to be the Twins' fourth outfielder. The early release gives him time to look for another contract before the season opens. "Teams need outfielders, so we'll see," he said. "I know I can still play."
Four players — Darin Mastroianni, Danny Santana, Oswaldo Arcia and Carlos Quentin — still remain to back up the projected starting outfield of Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Eddie Rosario.
With the transactions taken care of, the Twins sent plenty of starters up the interstate to face the Rays, with Joe Mauer making his first appearance outside Fort Myers today. Ervin Santana, newly named Opening Day starter, will be on the mound, facing Drew Smyly. Here are the lineups for the noon (CT) start:
TWINS
Buxton CF
Mauer 1B
Sano RF
Plouffe 3B
Quentin DH
Rosario LF
Nunez SS
Suzuki C
Beresford 2B
Santana RHP, followed by Kevin Jepsen and Trevor May
RAYS
Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson DH
Guyer CF
Loney 1B
Souza RF
Mahtook LF
Casali C
Smyly LHP