Mauer’s woes have included the flu, too, along with bumps and bruises, and that not so well-known condition referred to by the Twins’ organization as “bilateral leg weakness.” Overall diagnosis: the 28-year-old catcher has been a physical wreck this spring after off-season knee surgery.
Mauer has experienced lots of hurts during his eight year major league career. This season is the second in three he has been placed on the disabled list in April. He hasn’t played since April 12 this year, appearing in just nine games so far.
Don’t be surprised if management asks the Twins’ $184 million man to come by the office for an exit interview after this season that includes a suggestion to buy an outfielder’s glove. Yes, Mauer wants only to catch but the club needs his offense in every game and the organization’s investment is way too rich not to have him on the field.
Mauer is a three-time batting champion who should still have his peak years as a hitter ahead of him. How can the Twins afford to risk unnecessary injury to Mauer by keeping him at catcher, baseball’s most punishing position?
The suggestion here is to send Mauer to right field and move Jason Kubel to left. Mauer is athletic and his powerful arm will be an improvement over Kubel who actually is an underrated outfielder.
Outfielder-infielder Michael Cuddyer, 32, is in the last year of his reported $10.5 million contract. At his age and price tag, it’s not difficult to imagine this is Cuddyer’s last season in Minneapolis. Also, opening up the outfield roster would be a potential Delmon Young trade. The Twins’ regular left fielder has been consistently inconsistent offensively since coming here from Tampa Bay and his fielding is average(let’s be nice) at best.
Ideally, the Twins would be able to trade both Cuddyer and Young while improving their talent-poor bullpen, or acquire middle infielders, or a catcher, who can both hit and field. Such additions would fit on a foundation of the resurrected “M&M Boys.”