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Minnesota Twins: Danny Santana’s Time Could be Coming to an End

By Nate Palmer

Apr 15, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Danny Santana rounds third base to score during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Minnesota Twins won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Danny Santana rounds third base to score during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Minnesota Twins won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Twins want to stay competitive in the AL Central. To help, there may be another roster move to bolster the bench.

As the Minnesota Twins continue to try and salvage their hot 5-1 start, they are beginning to make roster moves. One of the weak spots being identified early was how limited the Twins bench has been.

The most pointed to weakness was that there was no power to bring off the bench late in games. Instead, manager Paul Molitor was left with the likes of Eduardo Escobar and Danny Santana as possible pinch hitters.

One move was already made to alter the bench when Kennys Vargas was called up, and his impact has already been made known. While the next move may not be another big bat, reports out of Rochester could suggest something is brewing.

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Ehire Adrianza

On a rehab stint in Rochester, he is a 27 year old Venezuelan who the Twins claimed of waivers this offseason from the Milwaukee Brewers. Adrianza has spent most of his professional baseball career with the San Fransisco Giants where he appeared in 154 games from 2012-2016. In that time he slashed .220/.292/.313 while seeing time defensively all over the infield, but mainly at SS and 2B.

If Adrianza begins to add outfield defense to his resume, he begins to sound like none other than, current bench player, Danny Santana. If you take away Santana’s good 2014 season, he ends up with a slash line of .222/.255/.300. So far they look similar on paper, but what should have Santana nervous of these developments?

What should make Santana nervous is Adrianza comes with a reputation of being a very good defender.  So while Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco have been surprisingly solid at their defensive positions, there could be a need for a late game defensive substitute in close games. A role that it seems the Twins don’t trust Santana in.

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The new regime may have decided they have seen what Danny Santana can do at the big league level. While Adrianza doesn’t seem to be a huge upgrade at first glance, he is a different player and his defense may be able to play the biggest deciding factor in any possible move. And while Adrianza has hit .444 in his 6 game Rochester rehab stint, Santana may be looking in his review mirror and see Adrianza coming for his roster spot fast!

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