Twins' trying different OF options

The Minnesota Twins are trying to find a sixth outfield spot on the roster, and it's getting hard to deny that Jason Pridie should be in the Major Leagues.

While others look to Carlos Gomez to fill the Twin's CF post, and while Gomez has clearly shown he can play the position, it's unclear if the speedy youngster can actually hit. The Twins' CF will probably need to fill the role of lead-off hitter.

Right now, the Twins have LF Delmon Young, RF Michael Cuddyer, DH Jason Kubel set with the major league squad. All can play the corner OF posts. Then there's Craig Monroe, who can (Yuck) play in the OF, but is most likely a pinch hitter.

Gomez, Denard Span and Pridie are all battling for the CF job. The Twins also have Garrett Jones, who is out of options and is a corner outfielder.

Will they keep five - or six outfielders? Manager Ron Gardenhire has already said he plans to go north with 12 pitchers and two catchers, leaving 11 infield and outfield positions. So there are four infield positions, a DH and three outfield positions (eight positions) for 11 players. If you throw the DH position in with the outfielders (since Kubel is expected to have that position and he's an outfielder) you have either five or six outfielders, and five or six infielders.

My guess is that GM Bill Smith is on the phone trying to shop Jones - and maybe even Monroe - for a minor leaguer or two.

Looking at the early Spring Training stats for Pridie, Span and Gomez, Pridie is leading in the hitting, with a .400 average (4 for 10); Span is at .286 (2/7) and Gomez at .154 (2/13).

In all fairness, Monroe is batting .333 this spring as well, in limited play (1 for 3). He's been injured for about a week.

So if the Twins keep Monroe, on top of Young, Cuddyer and Kubel, they are limited to one other OF, with five OF, or could keep two and have six, but that makes it more difficult to carry a sixth infielder (such as Alexi Casilla). My choice would still be to keep Pridie and Gomez.

If the Twins drop Monroe (and I think overall this is the most viable option, because it saves millions of dollars, and a valuable roster spot), it would allow the Twins to keep Pridie, Gomez, and Casilla.

Clearly, it's a difficult decision. Do they want a genuine power threat - Monroe - on the bench - but someone with only a limited ability to field and hit for average, or do they want someone who fields, hits for average, but not for power?

Pridie can hit for power, as well as average. He may not yet be a total power threat, but he hit 17 homers in A ball in 2004 and 14 homers total in AA and AAA last year. Gomez has hit for 8 homers at AA in 2006, but is better known for his speed and fielding ability. Span is not a home run threat, having hit seven total in five minor league seasons.

It looks like the Twins have been trying Pridie out in a number of OF positions, seeing if he can play well in all. That expands his usefullness. But I'd rather have him play every day in CF, and see what he can do - or have him platoon with Gomez, and give them both a shot.

In any case this CF battle is interesting to watch.