FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Ron Gardenhire shook hands with Alexi Casilla as the former infielder walked by a little while ago. Then he discussed his own infield, which sounds eerily similar to those that Casilla played in: A lot of maybes.
Gardenhire tends to drop hints into his answers about players, so it was interesting to hear him discuss his options at third base if Trevor Plouffe -- out for a few days with a strained calf -- is injured again during the regular season. "It would be one of the utility guys right now, [like Jamey] Carroll," Gardenhire said of Plouffe's backup. Then he mentioned another utility candidate, Eduardo Escobar, but added a telling caveat. "Escobar, but if he's playing every day, we'd figure out somebody else."
Maybe it's overthinking it. Or maybe Brian Dozier and Pedro Florimon aren't so secure in the middle of the infield. Gardenhire went out of his way to compliment the 24-year-old Venezuelan, acquired from Chicago in the Francisco Liriano trade last July. "He's playing really well. Wherever I put him, he's playing really well," Gardenhire said. "So we'll just figure out what happens with the rest of them, and plug him in wherever we need to as we go along in the spring."
Something to keep in mind, anyway. Escobar is batting .367 this spring, has more hits (11) than anyone but Aaron Hicks, and is a smooth fielder. Florimon is at .222, Dozier at .226, for what that's worth. Admittedly, one 0-for-3 and 3-for-4 day, and their stats would reverse.
Escobar spent a half-hour this afternoon catching pitches from a pitching machine, getting ready for the grand super-utility experiment. It's clear Gardenhire is considering Escobar as an emergency catcher, on hand only in case Joe Mauer or Ryan Doumit get hurt during a game. That would free up a roster spot, the one held last year by Drew Butera, for a stronger pinch-hitter, which definitely appeals to the manager. "Another catcher is only a phone call away," he said. "He would only have to get you through nine innings, or whatever."
A couple of other notes:
-- Deolis Guerra was transferred to Tampa General Hospital today, in preparation for surgery to remove the first rib on his right side. That should give the artery more room, and the Twins hope will prevent further blood clots. No word yet on when the surgery will take place.
-- Justin Morneau is back from the World Baseball Classic, and sounds eager to get back to work. Had a good time, he said, and "I'll always remember" the moment when he was facing the USA battery of Glen Perkins and Joe Mauer.
