Utility players?

Among the Twins' choices for utility players in 2008:

Infield: Mike Lamb, Adam Everett, Brendan Harris and Justin Morneau will be the regulars. Nick Punto, of course, will hold down the defensive side of the utility players.

Brian Buscher and Matt Tolbert are among the top minor leaguers. Tolbert will get the nod here, and join Punto at the Major League level this spring. He's just too good to sit at AAA. Buscher will get a shot at the majors sometime this year.

Others have argued for Matt Macri or Alexander Machado. Machado is not on the Twins' 40-man roster. He'll be in AAA, along with Macri. Both are very good players, but are not quite ready for prime time. Machado was injured last year, and will likely be at AAA.

Among the outfielders, we'll have lots: Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer will be in the corners, and I predict Jason Pridie will be in Center, unless there's a new CF. Jason Kubel will DH and spot-start in the OF. That leaves possibly two utility OF positions. One will go to Craig Monroe, who will be the prime pinch hitter off the bench. Garrett Jones, Darnell McDonald and Denard Span are the three likeliest candidates for the last spot. Jones is out of options and might make it based on that. But more likely, McDonald gets the nod.

The Twins will likely only carry two catchers, Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond. In the past, Manager Ron Gardenhire has wanted to use Redmond's bat in the lineup frequently as DH (or as catcher, with Mauer as DH). I think that's less likely in 2008 because Kubel has eclipsed Redmond as the everyday DH, and because trades and signings have brought more capable bats to the team. Mauer and Redmond, barring injuries, will still both get lots of playing time, but infrequently in the same game. Mauer will start two-thirds of the games at CA, and Redmond one-third.

Clearly, with the signings and trades to get Young, Lamb, Monroe, and Harris, and with the release of Jason Tyner, there is a trend here. The Twins are shedding their image as 'piranhas'. These guys have some pop. My guess is that Punto will also be gone after 2008 (second year of a two-year contract). New General manager Bill Smith seems to have a different direction for the Twins. Offensive power is part of the equation.