The Rays have designated corner infielder Trevor Plouffe for assignment, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Plouffe’s roster spot will go to righty Andrew Kittredge tomorrow, though that’ll be just a one-day placeholder move until Alex Cobb is activated to start Thursday’s game.
The longtime Twins infielder was picked up by the Rays after a disappointing start to his lone season with the Athletics, but Plouffe’s struggles in St. Petersburg proved to be greater than in the Bay Area. Through 82 plate appearances as a member of the Rays, he’s batted .178/.268/.247 with a homer and a pair of doubles. All told, Plouffe has posted a .204/.274/.325 batting line and eight homers through 281 PAs.
Disappointing as those numbers may be, Plouffe was a solid source of modest pop and, eventually, respectable fielding for the Twins as their primary third baseman from 2012-16. Though a series of oblique injuries limited him to 90 games in his final season with Minnesota, the former first-round pick batted a combined .250/.311/.425 and averaged 17 homer per season (23 per 162 games played) in 2545 PAs over that stretch. He’s been an especially productive bat against left-handed pitching in his career, batting .268/.344/.450 through 887 career PAs when holding the platoon advantage.
I still remember the good ol days when he had legitimate trade value and could hit a baseball at a modestly above average rate
Yes, I remember that week.
He had solid two years if not three
He and Casey McGehee.
Braves minor league deal and go
Good luck
I am honestly suprised soo many Braves’ fans are wanting Plouffe…Just why!?!
With Phillips, Peterson, and even Albies, there’s really no need for the Braves to sign him, unless they plan to play him at 1B at AAA. Even then, I just don’t see the space available, the upside, nor the reward, for taking on Plouffe.
Even in AAA, the Braves already have Rio Ruiz at 3B, and he can also fill in at 1B, if necessary. Micah Johnson who is a super utility guy, that can field every position, except pitcher and catcher, fairly well. Also, they still have 1B/3B Carlos Franco, who has been in their farm system seemingly the past 10 years!!
I’m not saying any of that trio, nor 1B/3B/CO Kyle Kubitza for that matter, is necessarily better than Plouffe..I’d just personally have all three compared to swapping one with Plouffe, and Plouffe also possibly securing a 40-man spot…
Ruiz is still pretty young, has shown he has worked to improve his 3B defense, and he has also some solid pop this season. Even though his short stint in Atlanta didn’t fair all too well, apparently Ruiz has taken the minor set-back as motivation. Since being demoted back down, all Ruiz has done is mash, and it is a very promising sign for Ruiz moving forward, while possibly earning hisself another shot, with a September call-up.
Johnson, has been rehabbing since missing the majority of the season, and along with his versatility and speed, he’s actually hit pretty well in Gwinnett. He will most likely fight both Johan Camargo and Jace Peterson for one or possibly even two of the bench spots for the Braves.
Franco, while still mildly young in his own right, has had his own fair share of ups and downs this year, but he seems most likely to have topped out as a AAA/AAAA caliber/ organization filler type of player. He has shown signs that he has some good power in his swing; however, he just doesn’t make enough consistent, hard contact to warrant a chance at the ML level..He still has some time though, but it is running out quickly.
And Kubitza, well he’s basically Plouffe right now, only much better defensively, slightly younger, and marginally better offensively. Admittingly though, he doesn’t have the ML track record Plouffe once had..
So, all in all, that’s pretty much why Plouffe just isn’t necessary for the Braves…So to my fellow, collective Braves’ fans I say, jusy STOP IT!! lol
That’s way too much thought and wasted time typing about good ol Trevor Plouffe.
Agreed Lol, waaaaay too much effort considering
He’ll be in the minor leagues for his next at bat when you don’t have what it takes to stay in the majors minors is his next option
The Rays org looks insane holding him this long and dumping Beckham for peanuts to a division rival. I’m not sure if it was the FO or Kevin Cash who pushed that, but whoever it was they have to be on the hot seat if the org has any credibility.
It does look like Beckham is perfect fit between Machado and Shoop
Everyone who thinks Beckham can keep up that pace he’s on is out of their mind. As the last 3 games he’s already started regressing. Kid has no baseball iq. Doesn’t know when he should or shouldn’t be tagging up his defense at short was lazy and he made himself look real silly a lot. He just thinks he’s too “smooth” and good for the game. Making outs on the bases by not running hard. He cost the Rays multiple wins but nobody cares about that. Or the fact that he was an absolute baby if he didn’t get to play that day. All they see is he was hot for 2 weeks because that’s the kind of player he is. He was pouting and said I’ll show you and played his butt off and now is comfortable and doesn’t care and his swings reflect that. I’m so glad he’s off this team i don’t care what his batting average is. We are much more sound defensively and in the clubhouse without him
I’m sure there are some truths in what you said but I really doubt a Buck led team with guys like Jonesy would let that kinda attitude fly. Maybe he was humbled by the experience and now will accept being mentored by the vets a little. Maybe he’s coming into his own and the rejection triggered it. I know I’d be depressed playing half my games at the Trop. I don’t know if it will last but people do grow and learn sometimes.
The fact that you sited 3 games as some kind of valid sample size disqualifies you from being taken seriously.
Watch Beckham play for a longer period of time and you will see why Rays got rid of him.
He’s gonna get the chance, probably the Os starting SS next season as JJ Hardy is a free agent and can’t stay healthy any longer.
Brad Miller’s abomination of a season and his cement glove are telling a different story.
Easy in hindsight though as an Os fan I am incredibly grateful for the gift that is Beckham which was bestowed upon us. Of course he will never keep up this pace with a BAPIP of like .500 but he adds a missing element to the Os and will at least be in the running to be the SS for the Os next season.
Got a feeling the Rays front office will be cursing the day they dealt Beckham to the O’s for a long time.
In a way I don’t think they care. They knew he’d be playing vs them often. Tampa media is soft on em and until they get a new stadium there isn’t much insensitive for ownership to press hard on its front office or Cash.
The kid was hitting .167 the whole month before they dealt him. Hmm I’m sure it had nothing to do with acquiring hechavarria and taking his position at ss. He’s a whiner. The media did not like him if he played poorly he wouldn’t be available to talk but if he had 4 hits he was running to the media himself. He’s selfish
If true I did not know that about him. I can’t stand players like that so I’m gonna reserve judgement until I see it myself. So far he has seemed very humble and everything he says is exactly what you want to hear. It seems all he does is credit everyone else around him. Then again we always wear our best shoes when it’s fresh!
I’m not sure you quite understand how baseball season stats work. Players have good stretches and they have bad stretches. That accumulates to overall numbers that measure performance. Beckham’s numbers have been solid, but they blow away all Rays middle infielders. Also, your so-called whiner narrative comes from media guys. The players in the clubhouse liked him AND openly discussed their dismay with the trade.
They say he played with a chip on his shoulder which is a nice way to say he was very cocky. And my 3 game reference is observing his swings in those games and seeing him start to decline because that’s when it started. Not my fault it’s only been 3 games since then. Why would the media guys lie when they say Beckham wasn’t available for the media tonight when he goes o for 3 and has an error. If he has 4 hits he’ll be there with a smile on his face. His offense has been solid. Good for him his defense here still was not good. Maybe you’re uninformed that a baseball player has to play defense as well. And if you’re a Rays fans his baserunning was absolutely terrible. Nobody is pushing hech from ss and Miller yeah he’s replaceable but I did not wanna kee Beckham around when you have Adames who can be your starting 2b next year. Or have Duffy back or whatever. I do not want Tim back. Idc if he hits ..900