Veteran infielder Trevor Plouffe is returning to the Phillies on a minor league contract, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). He’ll report to camp tomorrow, Heyman adds. Plouffe is represented by CAA.
The 32-year-old Plouffe spent the 2018 season in the Philadelphia organization as well, appearing in seven big league games and making 12 plate appearances with three hits (including a memorable walk-off three-run homer in the 16th inning of a marathon game against the Dodgers). The rest of his season was spent with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, where he slashed .230/.347/.460 with a dozen homers and 16 doubles in 274 trips to the plate.
Plouffe was the Twins’ primary third baseman for a significant portion of the team’s downturn earlier this decade, logging 2201 plate appearances from 2012-15 and posting a solid .248/.312/.426 while averaging 18 homers and 29 doubles per season along the way. The right-handed-hitting Plouffe is a better option against lefties, as one might expect. A former first-round pick, Plouffe never found his footing as a shortstop at the MLB level but eventually settled in as a solid defender at third base in his best seasons. He eventually began seeing occasional work at first base, as well.
Plouffe seems like a long shot to make the Phillies’ roster out of Spring Training, given that the team’s two primary corner infielders, Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco, both hit right-handed. The organization has a left-handed-hitting corner option on the 40-man roster already (Mitch Walding), and Plouffe’s experience in the outfield is limited. That said, he’s an experienced depth addition to have on hand in the event of injuries at the MLB level, and the team’s trade of Carlos Santana earlier this offseason does create a slightly easier path for him to resurface at the MLB level at some point in 2019.
Stupid money
They already used it on McCutchen
why…its a minor league deal for someone that can produce more than you can….its called depth
See ya Harper
We got him!!! 2019 FA Winners = Phillies.
Stupid money.
Comma not needed before as well.
S.A. must have edited that because of your expert grammatical insight.
Psh clearly the superior signing rather than wasting 300 mill on some no named bum named machado.
He always shows up in some Spring Training camp….then, Plouffe, he’s gone……
Hah nice
Sorry to bother you people but does anyone know a good site for surplus value. Trying to see what they project for Buxton since the Twins scammed an extra season from him. He’s a great buy low candidate at the one spot they really need, right field, with enough bat, tons of speed, a great arm and upside. He can play cf but with Meadows, KK, and Pham they have plenty of options in cf. I like Garcia especially against lefties but Buxton can play cf against lefties to help KK. KK is about to have his big year finally but even at his best isn’t usually great against lefties.
Sportrac
Thanks. Didn’t see surplus value or projections but I like the salary breakdowns. Just curious on plugging in a projection. Thanks though, he may never be what people hyped but even 250/360/450 with 30-40 sb’s, great base running, and great defense, while stopping runners in their tracks seems like an all-star to me. The Rays could use the rh’ed bat and after Garcia leaves or KK gets traded he’d be an everyday player.
.250/.360/.450? Are you being catfished by somebody claiming to be Buxton? In 1,074 PA he’s a career .230/.285/.387 hitter. His ceiling is probably a .700 OPS and 120 games a year with injury woes. Not sure how he’s stealing 30-40 bases when his career high is 29, either. Twins fans are obsessed with the idea Sano and Buxton are superstars rather than guys just as likely to be out of baseball by the time they’d reach free agency.
What does Byron Buxton or the Rays have to do with anything about this article?
I really don’t know
Twins fans see a name they recognize and they click on the article. Plouffe was once a sure fire, can’t miss, next Troy Tulowitzki in Twins fans’ eyes, lol
Is he related to Harper? Best friends?
He weighs the same as Harper
on God?
He hits the Plouffe out of the ball.