(MCT) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an effort to preserve Paul Konerko’s freshness, manager Robin Ventura confirmed his 36-year-old cleanup hitter will fill the designated hitter role more often in 2013 with Adam Dunn making more starts at first base.

“I think that will probably happen,” Ventura said Tuesday. “For Paulie, what goes through the course of the year is a lot. It’s a lot to have him be the everyday first baseman. I think Adam proved he can play first base and give Paulie more time. And when you get to that age, not that he’s done by any means, it’s going to help him to have time off and not be on his feet so much.”

Konerko was batting .399 on May 27, but hit only .265 after that and hit only 15 home runs in the final four months. He batted only .253 in the final four weeks and .227 with six RBIs in his final two weeks. Konerko coped with a floating bone chip in his left wrist that was removed at the end of the regular season.