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Molitor to go with 5 outfielders, 1 backup infielder to start season

FORT MYERS, Fla. — On Sunday, the Twins lost starting shortstop Jorge Polanco, who was suspended by MLB for testing positive for a performance-enhancing.

On Thursday, the team jettisoned veteran utility man Erick Aybar, a former Gold Glove shortstop with the Los Angeles Angels.

The 34-year-old was signed to a minor-league deal and was competing for a bench role with Ehire Adrianza behind Polanco and reserve Eduardo Escobar, who will hold down Polanco’s job for the first 80 games of the season.

That leaves Adrianza as the only backup middle infielder as manager Paul Molitor elected to keep five outfielders on his roster.

“I would be fine with that,” Molitor said.

Left fielder Eddie Rosario still is managing triceps tendonitis in his throwing arm, and Molitor chose to keep outfielder Robbie Grossman and one more center field option (Zack Granite) over an extra utility infielder.

Catchers Bobby Wilson and Willians Astudillo also were informed they would not make the 25-man roster scheduled to travel to Baltimore for the March 29 season opener.

Meanwhile, outfielder Jake Cave was optioned to Triple-A Rochester; first baseman Brock Stassi was reassigned to minor-league camp and outfielder Chris Heisey was released.

The Twins have 35 active players in camp — 15 pitchers, four catchers, 11 infielders and five outfielders, including seven non-roster players.

Reds claim Vargas

First baseman/designated hitter Kennys Vargas was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday after he was designated for assignment last week.

Vargas was out of contract options and squeezed out of the picture at first base when the Twins signed Logan Morrison during spring training. Morrison, who will earn $6.5 million this season, slugged 38 home runs last year for the Tampa Bay Rays before becoming available in free agency.

Vargas, 27, played four seasons with the Twins. He batted .252 with 35 home runs and 116 RBIs in 236 games.

Duffey, Busenitz go to Triple A

Offseason improvements in the Twins bullpen proved costly to Alan Busenitz and Tyler Duffey. Both were optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday morning.

With Rule 5 draft pick Tyler Kinley making a strong bid to stick on the Opening Day roster, and veteran Phil Hughes potentially in a long relief role to open the season, the Twins decided to ship out a couple of 27-year-olds with a combined 84 relief appearances for them in 2017.

“It’s a numbers game, and my number’s not in it right now,” said Duffey, who made 36 starts for the Twins in 2015-16. “We’ll see what happens. It’s not ideal, but it’s all right. I’m not planning on staying long.”

Duffey, who posted a 4.94 earned-run average as the primary long reliever last year, posted a 7.11 ERA in 12 2/3 spring innings. Busenitz, coming off a 1.99 ERA as a hard-throwing rookie, slipped to a 7.27 ERA in nine outings and 8 2/3 innings.

“It’s a little disappointing but I get it,” Busenitz said. “They said just keep doing what I’m doing and keep improving. It’s not a matter of if but when. That’s all you can do: Keep working on the change-up, keep the curveball in the zone.”

Duffey, who will continue to work in a long-relief role for the Red Wings, has two years of minor-league options remaining, as does Busenitz.

“Those always come back to get you a little bit,” Duffey said. “Like they said, the Opening Day roster is great, but no team has made it through the whole season with just the Opening Day roster. I’ll just go down there and get my work in and hope to be back soon.”

With the moves, the Twins have 38 active players in camp, including 13 pitchers. They plan to carry 12 pitchers to open the season.

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