NEW YORK – Oswaldo Arcia got the news Thursday night, his friend Eduardo Escobar said, that he was probably headed to Tampa Bay. "He was very happy. He just wants to play," Escobar said. "He thinks he'll get the chance."
The Twins completed the trade Friday, shipping the 25-year-old outfielder to the Rays, but it will be a while before they know what they will receive in return. General Manager Terry Ryan said the teams have agreed on a few options, and the Twins will make a decision within the next six months.
Arcia leaves on remarkably good terms, with both Ryan and manager Paul Molitor expressing their hope that the longtime prospect resurrects his career. "I was hoping he would go to a team where he would get an opportunity, and it turned out to be the Rays. Hopefully he takes advantage," Molitor said. "I told him I appreciated what he did for our organization, what he gave me in terms of effort, and now he'll kind of wipe the slate clean and see how he does down there."
Arcia, designated for assignment June 16, spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the Twins, hitting 14 home runs as a rookie in 2013 and 20 more, second-most on the team, in 2014. But two subpar seasons and the rise of other young outfielders ended his time with the Twins.
The lefthanded slugger did provide the winning hit in two walk-off victories this season, singling home Byron Buxton in the 12th inning to beat the Angels on April 17, and hitting a long home run off Cleveland's Zach McAllister in the bottom of the ninth on April 25.
Sano plays at third
Miguel Sano's first career plate appearance at Class AAA Rochester looked a lot like his trips to the plate in the majors. He got down 0-and-2, worked the count, fouled off a pitch and ultimately drew a walk.
Sano's rehab began with him playing third base five innings Friday — he went 0-for-1, grounding out in his second time up — and will include seven more innings at third Saturday, then a stint as designated hitter Sunday. And then?
"There's no sense in committing beyond the next three days," Ryan said. "If [Trevor] Plouffe is sore and we can't get him going soon, [some will] want me to get Sano back here."
Molitor might be among them. "If we had to do something [with Plouffe]," he said, a quick recall for Sano "would be something you would look at."
Will Sano spend any games in right field while at Rochester? "There might be," Ryan said.
As for Plouffe, he felt better than expected Friday, after leaving Thursday's game because of a strained groin. "I think I'm encouraged," said the veteran third baseman, who spent two weeks in April on the disabled list because of an intercostal strain. "Usually when I get hurt, I'm really pessimistic. … At first, it was really tight. Then as I was walking, it loosened. I've never had anything in this area before, so I don't really know how to read it."
Plouffe did no baseball activities Friday, just an upper-body workout.
Etc.
• Trevor May threw a bullpen session at Target Field on Friday, then traveled to Rochester. The righthander, out due to back spasms, will pitch one inning for the Red Wings on Sunday to begin his own weeklong rehab stint.
• After consulting with Glen Perkins' surgeon, Ryan said, the Twins "anticipate he will be ready right around the start of [next] season." The closer had tears in the labrum of his left shoulder repaired Thursday.
