MINNEAPOLIS -- Despite reports to the contrary, the Twins never shopped third baseman Trevor Plouffe at any point this offseason, as they believe he's still a big part of the club's future despite the signing of Byung Ho Park and the emergence of Miguel Sano.
After the Twins won the bidding for Park, who will be the club's designated hitter, in early November with a $12.85 million posting fee, they contacted Plouffe to assure him he wasn't going anywhere and that Sano would make the move to the outfield. So while Plouffe saw some reports that he could be traded, he knew from what he had heard from the front office and manager Paul Molitor that it wasn't going to be the case.