FORT MYERS, FLA. – The Twins' addition of slugger Logan Morrison is potentially a boost to an already effective offense and his personality already has been a hit in the clubhouse.
But there is one player, in particular, who could benefit from Morrison's arrival: Joe Mauer.
Morrison, a first baseman, will be the primary designated hitter in manager Paul Molitor's lineup. But Molitor is thinking about how much he can toggle Morrison and Mauer between the positions. Mauer could spend more time at DH as part of the arrangement. And, Molitor acknowledged, more time at DH could mean fewer days off for No. 7.
"I don't have numbers in mind, specifically," Molitor said. "You think about Joe having a healthy season and how many games does that look like and how you are going to divide them from defense to just DH days.
"[Morrison] being a guy who has played a lot of first, it will be an easy swap now and then just to keep Morrison in the game and keep Joe fresh, its's a nice combination, potentially."
Keeping Mauer, 34, fresh has been a priority for the Twins in recent seasons, and Molitor appeared to hit the rest button at the right times last year. The three-time AL batting champion played in 141 games, appearing 13 times as the designated hitter. Mauer was the DH 34 times in 2016 and 20 in 2015.
Molitor prefers to monitor his fellow Cretin-Derham Hall alum, picking and choosing the times when Mauer appears ready for a break.
"I think it went well last year," Mauer said. "I don't think we went into the season with a number in mind. That what was good about it. I told Mollie, 'If you think I need a day, then give me a day.' "