Twins rumors: Trevor Plouffe, Brandon Inge, Mark Sobolewski

Entering the offseason, the Minnesota Twins were hopeful that they’d be able to acquire players that would offer Trevor Plouffe competition at third base. While options, including Brandon Inge, remain on the market, Twins general manager Terry Ryan appears to be content to allow in-house candidates, such as Mark Sobolewski and Deibinson Romero, to push Plouffe, according to Phil Mackey of ESPN 1500:

"We've got a little competition for him, because I'm of the opinion that we like (Mark) Sobolewski some, and we like Deibinson Romero some, and between (Eduardo) Escobar. I didn't bring (Miguel) Sano in because I didn't think he was quite ready. But he's one of those guys we have high hopes for."

Ryan did say that if he’s able to identify a player that he believes "is going to come in here and give us an opportunity to possibly make this team or be certainly at the Triple-A level" he will consider it. Beyond Sobolewski and Romero, Ryan also mentioned that Eduardo Escobar as another candidate to push Plouffe. He doesn’t believe that former top prospect Miguel Sano is "quite ready" to be included in the mix.

Sobolewski was picked up by the Twins in the Rule 5 Draft from the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit .249/.286/.432 with 21 doubles and 20 home runs last season for Toronto’s Double- and Triple-A affiliates.