FORT MYERS, FLA. -- The Twins have been looking at other team's rosters for a utility player this spring, knowing Tsuyoshi Nishioka isn't ready for that role. And today's decision to send Nishioka to Class AAA Rochester, raises questions about who will fill that utility spot.
There are still candidates on the spring training roster, so don't expect Twins General Manager Terry Ryan or Manager Ron Gardenhire to talk openly about the need to acquire someone else.
But unless the Twins are ready to bring Brian Dozier to the majors, letting him skip Class AAA, their current roster doesn't have a polished major league ready utility player.
Luke Hughes will likely make the roster, but he can't play shortstop in the majors. Trevor Plouffe is an outfielder now. One of the four bench spots will go to a backup catcher, likely Drew Butera.
If the Twins intend to keep Jamey Carroll as their starting shortstop and Alexi Casilla at second base, they need a utility player who can play shortstop. Candidates on the spring roster include Pedro Florimon, Ray Chang and Michael Hollimon.
Sean Burroughs is a candidate to make the bench, too, but so far all he has done is play third base.
The long-term answer seems clear to me: If the Twins would hand the starting shortstop job to Dozier, Carroll gives them an ideal utility infielder, and everything else falls into place. But knowing the Twins, they'll want to let Dozier gain some more polish at Class AAA Rochester.
Dozier will get a long look in camp because he has yet to be placed on the 40-man roster, and the Twins don't have to worry about an injury sending him to the major league disabled list, where he'd start acquiring service time.
