The Twins' interest in Josh Donaldson suggests the front office is open to moving Miguel Sano to first base full time. But what happens if they don't land Donaldson? Is Sano destined to move across the diamond either way? More on that topic here:

 

My thoughts on Sano's position in 2020 will be 3B in either Pittsburgh or Cincinnati if he's not sent to Pittsburgh

My guess is that he'll be at third base to open the season. We won't sign Donaldson. There are some vets that the Twins could take a flyer on to hold down first base for a few months until someone like Rooker, Larnich or Kiriloff are ready to come up.

 

I could also see the Twins getting a MIer and moving Arreaz to third and Sano to first - I don't think that will happen but I wouldn't be shocked if it did.

  1B.  Would an infield of Sano/Marwin at 1B, Polanco at 2B, Iglesias at SS and Arraez/Marwin at 3B good enough?

I think the Donaldson signing is about a really good bat. I think Sano will be at 3B otherwise.

 

The heart of the defensive struggle in the infield is shortstop and second base where they ranked 30th and 29th according to Fangraphs. Had Arraez been the full time starter at 2B I don’t think they could have held that 29th ranking.

 

Donaldson does not fix the heart of the infield defense problem. They need to be better at shifting, healthy and better skilled. The skills up the middle don’t improve much if at all as a player ages. Those spots are too dependent on athleticism. We can hope that Polanco’s persistent leg troubles have healed and he will approach a mediocre level of play. Arraez is young enough to improve skill before losing some of his limited athleticism.