Sano gotta go

The disastrous 2021 Minnesota Twins have a plethora of problems. Almost every facet of this team has failed to live up to expectations. Not all of these things can be fixed quickly, or maybe at all this year.

But one issue can be solved very quickly. Get rid of Miguel Sano. 

We have waited for years for Sano to be that complete slugger he teased us with as a rookie. In 2019 he was a strikeout machine but at least he mashed at a career high level. It was a worthy tradeoff.

Sano is a microcosm for the Twins as a whole. There is no plan B if the ball isn't flying over the fence at a high rate.

Sano missed some time on the IL, although that was more of a "we need to stash a bad hitter somewhere" than a "this guy is genuinely hurt" situation. Now since he has returned it's been more of the same. Easy strikeouts, feeble swings, no power. He is not this lineup's only problem, but he is the quickest fix. Bench him, trade him, release him.

Granted, there may never come a time in 2021 where everyone is healthy, but if that time ever comes Sano will be blatantly blocking a better, more promising and useful player from the lineup.

Alex Kirilloff can play first. He has a much brighter future than Sano. If you stick Kirilloff in the outfield instead, that blocks either Luis Arraez, or Brent Rooker, or Trevor Larnach (already crushing AAA pitching).

If Arraez is moved to the infield, that blocks Polanco, who has struggled too but is not nearly as useless as Sano, or gives Nick Gordon absolutely no chance to play. And yeah, I would rather give Willians Astudillo at bats too. He is one of the few guys on this lifeless team who can maximize his ability. 

Again, injuries may never let this come to pass, but if they do what possible justification is there for playing Sano everyday? For the fleeting hope he may get on a hot streak? Sure, if he plays every day he will no doubt crush a handful of mistake pitches over the fence this summer. But he won't do it at a 2019 rate. He WILL strikeout at his usual rate. He WILL continue to be a negative player. He doesn't provide any real value other than homeruns. The days when he can even be used in the field are dwindling.

The contract is an issue. He still has 2022 guaranteed, plus a 2023 option or buyout. Jettisoning him would be costly, and I don't see that happening.

Can he be traded? Depends if some team thinks they can fix him. Teams take on reclamation projects all the time. But the Twins would have no leverage. We might get a garbage prospect or two.

Can't send him down anymore. Most likely is they just bench him. But what use is he as a full time pinch hitter?

Something's gotta give. Unless something drastically changes with Sano, there is zero chance he is still on this team by 2023. It's just over for him as any sort of meaningful piece of this franchise. The sooner the franchise itself catches on to this reality the better.