Twins searching for someone to step up at short

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Nick Punto. Jason Bartlett. Augie Ojeda. Juan Castro.

What might that add up to as the Twins search for someone to replace Cristian Guzman at shortstop?

P-L-A-T-O-O-N.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan shook his head at the suggestion.

"Can we have a full-camp workout yet?" Ryan said, spreading his arms out. "We haven't had our first day of practice yet. That will sort itself out."

And yet, as full squad workouts began Saturday, that P-word already had started to float around the clubhouse at Hammond Stadium, It's not definite -- a spring training game hasn't been played yet -- but it's emerging as a viable option.

Third base coach Al Newman, who also works with the infielders, acknowledged the possibility.

"That's what we might have to do," he said.

A higher authority, manager Ron Gardenhire, considers it an option.

"If it has to be some sort of platoon or something and I have to wiggle my way through it, I'll do that, too," he said. "[But] you'd like to have somebody come in and take over and play every day."

The Twins declined to pick up the option year on Guzman's contract after last season. The Twins' starting shortstop for the past six seasons then signed as a free agent with Washington.

Guzman was a steadying influence to the lineup last season, when the Twins won their third consecutive American League Central title. The Twins were unable to spend money through free agency or deal for someone equal to, or better than, Guzman. So they're hoping someone emerges from this group to make them forget about what they no longer have.

"I think if you put any of us out there we can do the job," Ojeda said. "We'll see what happens."

The contenders

The Twins will sort through the following cast: Punto, considered the most polished of the group and possessing the strongest arm; Bartlett, the most athletic and with the most offensive potential; Ojeda, the most consistent; and Castro, with the best hands and the most experience.

Punto is the closest to being a preferred candidate. He arrived with Carlos Silva before last season as part of the Eric Milton trade and has shown speed and solid play in the field. He's a switch-hitter, but no one is sure how productive he can be as a starter.

"I think Punto has shown the most offensive potential at this level," Gardenhire said. "He's got the skills. A switch-hitter. He can do a lot of things offensively. Probably a little bit more than the other guys have shown at this level."

Then again, Gardenhire is not looking for a hitter at short.

"You always like a little offense out of all your guys, but I want to catch the ball," he said. "We have to get outs."

Punto's current lower back injury is a concern. It's not considered a major injury, but it doesn't look good coming off a season in which he pulled an oblique muscle and suffered a broken collarbone.

"It's disappointing," Punto said.

Bartlett, a righthanded hitter, is the hot prospect. He's speedy, can steal bases and has shown the type of plate discipline that could make him a good top-of-the-order hitter.

Defensively, the coaching staff was concerned last season after a minor league promotion that Bartlett didn't show the ability to throw from different angles, which is required of a shortstop.

Bartlett didn't handle the criticism well, at least not then.

"When he was telling all that stuff, I felt like I never fielded a ground ball before and everything I was doing was wrong," Bartlett said. "During the offseason, I worked on stuff. What he's saying was right, and I'm coming along."

Bartlett will make the team only as a starter. If not, he will return to Class AAA Rochester. Any potential platoon would involve Punto, Castro and Ojeda. Ojeda, like Punto, is a switch-hitter while Castro, like Bartlett, bats righthanded.

Castro has never been an everyday starter. He debuted with the Dodgers in 1995 and has spent the past five seasons with Cincinnati.

Personally scouted by assistant general manager Wayne Krivsky, Castro had been a late-inning defensive specialist at second, third and short with the Reds.

"He's trusted in catching the ball," Gardenhire said.

Castro would like a chance to be an everyday player but is happy with any role he can fill.

"I don't know what is going to happen," Castro said, "but I am ready and I am here."

Gardenhire was pleased with Ojeda's fielding after a late call-up last season. And Ojeda's .339 average in 30 games was 120 points over his career average.

"We like Ojeda a lot," Gardenhire said, "He can really catch the ball."

No one thinks that Ojeda suddenly will start to hit consistently the way he hit in his limited time with the Twins last season. But his ability to field may give him his best chance in recent years to stick in the majors. He spent all of 2001 with the Cubs as a backup -- his last full season in the majors.

"That's my goal," Ojeda said of sticking. "I've come into camp and just hope to have a good competition. That makes it fun."

The Twins coaching staff isn't necessarily looking at it as fun. Replacing a six-year starter with one -- or two -- unknowns is not an enticing prospect. That's why the club will take the entire spring to settle on who will open at shortstop April 4 in Seattle.

"There is no handicapping because they are all out there and they are all going to get a chance," Gardenhire said. "There's not anything to handicap other than we have those guys and we have them listed and they are all going to get a whack at it."