"Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, the biggest names on the Twins' roster, are facing a significant shift in roles over the final four weeks of the season.

If and when Morneau returns to the lineup, he will be used only as the team's designated hitter. As for Mauer, Twins fans should get used to seeing him at first base. Both revelations came from Twins manager Ron Gardenhire before Monday's doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.

Injuries to both stars, particularly the concussion-related issues troubling Morneau, led to Gardenhire's decisions, and with the Twins out of the running in the American League Central, it's as good a time as any to examine new roles for the team's top two players.

"I won't play him in the field the rest of the season, and we've talked about that," Gardenhire said of Morneau. "We want to keep him from diving around and banging himself up." "