For all of the struggles, that hot stretch in June and July is encouraging and exciting. Still just 26 years old, Plouffe still has a chance to improve.

This is the key. There's no reason for a team that's going to lose a lot of games anyway to not give a player like Plouffe a chance - keep coaching him on his defense and give him a chance to build on those flashes of hot hitting when he's healthy and rested. Having a backup is fine, but the backup shouldn't be taking development time away from Plouffe.

I know you disagree with me but infielder Jack Hannahan is a very under-rated, not appreciated (In Cleveland, Seattle, Oakland) player. Being from St. Paul, MN it would be a great thing. Not sure if it will happen or not.

I like hannahan, but if we only sign one infielder, I'd rather get someone who can also play SS. Escobar and Florimon seem to be our best two options there and that scares the hell out of me. A really solid SS would help cover for a middling 3b too

If it's a minor league deal, then it's fine. I wouldn't mind having him on the team if the need arose. But he's not really a short term solution to anything or a long term solution to anything.

Looking at his stats, I'm a little surprised that he's never made even an emergency appearance as a corner outfielder. He doesn't have the bat to play there in reality, but he profiles a bench player and having him as an option as plausible 5th OF would give him some extra marketability for some teams.

I don't get the Hannahan love. Other then him being from Minnesota I don't see any real reason to bring him to the club. The guy is a career .671 hitter (.234 avg .314 OBP) at what should be an offensive position.

If you are signing him to just be a "depth" defensive replacement guy I guess you could toss him a minimum deal, but if you truly want "competition" for Plouffe at third base, Hannahan isn't the answer.

For all of the struggles, that hot stretch in June and July is encouraging and exciting. Still just 26 years old, Plouffe still has a chance to improve.

This is the key. There's no reason for a team that's going to lose a lot of games anyway to not give a player like Plouffe a chance - keep coaching him on his defense and give him a chance to build on those flashes of hot hitting when he's healthy and rested. Having a backup is fine, but the backup shouldn't be taking development time away from Plouffe.

This is my opinion too. I'm hoping the Twins can win 75 or so games in 2013, and with all the pitching needs, and some reason for hope with Plouffe, it would not be a priority for me at all... Which is kind of what makes Ryan's insistence upon a quality backup kind of surprising.

For all of the struggles, that hot stretch in June and July is encouraging and exciting. Still just 26 years old, Plouffe still has a chance to improve.

This is the key. There's no reason for a team that's going to lose a lot of games anyway to not give a player like Plouffe a chance - keep coaching him on his defense and give him a chance to build on those flashes of hot hitting when he's healthy and rested. Having a backup is fine, but the backup shouldn't be taking development time away from Plouffe.

This is my opinion too. I'm hoping the Twins can win 75 or so games in 2013, and with all the pitching needs, and some reason for hope with Plouffe, it would not be a priority for me at all... Which is kind of what makes Ryan's insistence upon a quality backup kind of surprising.

Reading between the lines it seems like Ryan is trying to use this to motivate Plouffe. Trevor has always been that guy in the minors who's production never really lived up to the talent (other then his breakout in AAA), now that he has made it to the majors Ryan and co probably don't want him to get to comfortable and want to make sure he continues to work on his game and improve.

I think Plouffe has the potential to be a very solid 3B for us and has all the talent in the world to do so. Now it's on him to make the adjustments needed (since the league learned how to pitch to him a bit after his absurd HR run)

' But he has to realize he has to play both sides of the game. I think he's capable."'

Is it my imagination that the above comment made by Ryan about Plouffe only seems to apply for this team when it's defensive side that's lacking? How many completely worthless offensive players have we thrown out there over the years and given significant time to because they had a good glove? How many players have we held in the minors due to 'defensive issues'?

I don't believe they think Plouffe will stick at 3rd. they might want to move him to 2nd. I wouldn't want a single player other than pitcher who can't play the middle. those are more urgent. Even if Plouffe bats .200 he will at least have some power. The other guys in the infield (not Dozier) have very little upside and if they slump at all could bat .160 with no power. Yuck.

Get pitching and if there is a couple million left, sign a quality bat for SS or 2nd.

Would texas take justin Morneau and our #7 prospect hHarrison for olt , maybe even throwing in aceldo or hudson boyd?
My thought is adding a piece to the puzzel or the future,even if is not pitching,with reports on Sano saying he will probally need to move to 1b or become a corner outfielder, why not try and get Olt?

Plouffe maybe needs a little more playing time to see, but his home run stats are a little inflated in my mind. Wasn't 20 of his 24 homeruns solo shots. And how many of those were home runs after the 7th inning with the Twins behind 7-2.

I can't help but think that Plouffe will be told to bring his 3B glove and an OF glove to spring training.

I imagine they make sure everyone on the team has multiple gloves available....with Gardy's constant need to move people around all over the diamond. :-)

I'll share a post by someone else I found funny:

'Well IMO, keeping Buttera indicates a good chance that Morneau will be traded. Parmalee will be platooned with Mauer at 1B. Mauer will be platooned with Doumit at C. Buttera will be main backup at C. Dozier and Carroll will be platooed at 2B, Florimon, Dozier and Carroll will be platooned at SS. Poofe and Carroll will be platooned at 3B. Willingham, Doumit, and Mauer will be platooned at DH. Willingham and Doumit will be platooed in LF. Revere and Mastroanni will be platooned in CF. Mastroanni and Parmalee will be platooned in RF. Tardy will be so overjoyed that he'll be able to have a different lineup for all 162 games of the season that he'll have the Hap, Hap, Happiest Christmas since Danny Fnnn Kaye!'