"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday that Joe Mauer almost certainly will start at first base tonight against the Chicago White Sox, a move that keeps Mauer in the lineup while allowing Drew Butera to catch Carl Pavano and Jim Thome to be team's designated hitter.

It will be the first time the 28-year-old catcher, in the first year of an eight-year contract that pays $23 million annually, has played any position other than catcher or designated hitter in his 864-game big-league career.

Mauer evaded a question Wednesday afternoon about how comfortable he is at first base, saying simply, "Well, I finally got a couple days of ground balls in. (Gardenhire) asked me to go over there and play first, and that's what I'm going to do."

The catcher also made it clear that his two-month stay on the disabled list with bilateral leg weakness in no way means he's feeling fresh now that he's back on the field.

Mauer was out of the starting lineup Wednesday with what Gardenhire termed general soreness. The manager said Mauer took a foul tip off the tip of his shoulder Tuesday night, and during a three-game series against the Rays he was also hit by a pitch in the back of the right shoulder.

Gardenhire said he could tell, based on Mauer's swing Tuesday, that the catcher is sore. He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and drew a smattering of boos from fans after grounding out in his final at-bat. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 12-5 loss to Tampa Bay, ending the game with a swinging strikeout. "