Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Adam Plutko

Players Entering Minor League Free Agency

By | at

Major League free agents became eligible to sign with other teams on Thursday, but the minor league free agent market has technically been open since season’s end.  MLBTR has published several posts detailing players who had already elected to become minor free agents, but Baseball America’s Matt Eddy (multiple links) has the full account of all the minor league free agents that officially joined their big league counterparts on the open market on Thursday.

This list details only players who have played in the Major Leagues, and whose minor league free agency hasn’t already been covered on MLBTR in the last month.

Athletics: Aaron Brooks, Carlos Duran, CD Pelham, Bryan Lavastida, Nick Martini, Alejo Lopez

Braves: Ian Anderson, Davis Daniel, Enoli Paredes, Amos Willingham, Brian Moran, Jonathan Ornelas, Chandler Seagle, Matthew Batten, Conner Capel

Orioles: Jakson Reetz, Livan Soto, Thaddeus Ward

Red Sox: John Brebbia, Isaiah Campbell, Mark Kolozsvary, Chadwick Tromp, Seby Zavala, Trayce Thompson

Cubs: Yency Almonte, Zach Pop, Caleb Kilian, Austin Gomber, Forrest Wall, Billy Hamilton, Joe Ross, Tommy Romero, Antonio Santos, Tom Cosgrove, Dixon Machado, Nicky Lopez, Carlos Perez

White Sox: Elvis Peguero, Kyle Tyler, Vinny Capra, Chris Rodriguez, Caleb Freeman, Joe Perez, Owen White, Andre Lipcius

Reds: Tejay Antone, Alan Busenitz, Buck Farmer, Josh Staumont, P.J. Higgins, Eric Yang, Levi Jordan, Edwin Rios, Davis Wendzel, Evan Kravetz, Adam Plutko, Charlie Barnes, Alex Young

Guardians: Riley Pint, Tyler Naquin, Parker Mushinski

Rockies: Xzavion Curry, Sean Bouchard, Owen Miller, Karl Kauffmann,

Tigers: Kevin Newman, Brian Serven, Jordan Balazovic, Nick Margevicius, Blair Calvo

Astros: Jon Singleton, Joe Hudson, Kenedy Corona, Greg Jones, Matt Bowman, Luis Contreras, Tyler Ivey, John Rooney

Royals: John Gant, Sam Long, Spencer Turnbull, Bobby Dalbec, Diego Castillo, Geoff Hartlieb, Jordan Groshans, Nick Pratto, Isan Diaz, Stephen Nogosek, Nick Robertson, Joey Krehbiel, Noah Murdock, Ryan Hendrix

Angels: Shaun Anderson, Brandon Drury, Yolmer Sanchez, Ben Gamel, Evan White, Cavan Biggio, Logan Davidson, Travis Blankenhorn, Oscar Colas, Kelvin Caceres, Dakota Hudson, Chad Stevens, Angel Felipe, Jordan Holloway, Victor Gonzalez

Dodgers: Michael Grove, Luken Baker, Giovanny Gallegos, Kyle Funkhouser, Chris Okey, CJ Alexander, Zach Penrod

Marlins: Jack Winkler, Lane Ramsey

Brewers: Luis Urias, Oliver Dunn, Julian Merryweather, Daz Cameron, Drew Avans, Josh Maciejewski, Jared Oliva

Twins: Jose Miranda, Anthony Misiewicz, Jonah Bride, Thomas Hatch, Daniel Duarte, Connor Gillispie

Mets: Joey Meneses, Jose Azocar, Joe La Sorsa, Gilberto Celestino, Ty Adcock, Bryce Montes de Oca, Yacksel Rios, Oliver Ortega, Luis De Los Santos

Yankees: Kenta Maeda, Jeimer Candelario, Rob Brantly, Andrew Velazquez, Jose Rojas, Joel Kuhnel, Wilking Rodriguez

Phillies: Matt Manning, Adonis Medina, Lucas Sims, Jacob Waguespack, Phil Bickford, Rodolfo Castro, Oscar Mercado, Brewer Hicklen, Christian Arroyo, Payton Henry

Pirates: Brett Sullivan, Nick Solak, Nelson Velazquez, Beau Burrows, Ryder Ryan

Cardinals: Zach Plesac, Anthony Veneziano, Tyler Matzek, Zack Weiss, Drew Rom, Aaron Wilkerson

Padres: Eguy Rosario, Tim Locastro, Reiss Knehr, Nate Mondou

Giants: Sean Hjelle, Miguel Diaz, Max Stassi, Sam Huff, Cole Waites, Drew Ellis, Ethan Small

Mariners: Michael Fulmer, Casey Lawrence, Collin Snider, Jesse Hahn, Nick Anderson, Josh Fleming, Austin Shenton, Jacob Nottingham, Beau Taylor, Cade Marlowe, Jack Lopez, Michael Mariot, Hagen Danner

Rays: Cooper Hummel, Jonathan Hernandez, Jamie Westbrook, Tres Barrera

Rangers: Omar Narvaez, Cal Quantrill, Ty Blach, Alan Trejo, Joe Barlow, Cory Abbott, Michael Plassmeyer, Alex De Goti

Blue Jays: Eloy Jimenez, Buddy Kennedy, Joe Mantiply, Elieser Hernandez, Rene Pinto, Adam Kloffenstein

Nationals: Francisco Mejia, Juan Yepez, Joan Adon, CJ Stubbs, Parker Dunshee, Erick Mejia, Adrian Sampson, Delino DeShields

Twins, Adam Plutko Agree To Minor League Deal

By | at

The Twins signed veteran right-hander Adam Plutko to a minor league contract, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. The CAA client will presumably head to Triple-A St. Paul once he’s built up, but he wasn’t with a team in spring training and could thus need some work at the team’s spring complex before joining an affiliate.

The 32-year-old Plutko spent the past two seasons pitching in the Korea Baseball Organization — for the LG Twins, coincidentally — and pitched quite well overseas. Through 285 1/3 innings out of LG’s rotation, he worked to a 2.40 ERA with a 21.7% strikeout rate, a 6% walk rate and a 46.5% ground-ball rate.

Prior to that run in the KBO, Plutko pitched in parts of five big league seasons between Cleveland and Baltimore, logging a 5.39 ERA in 273 2/3 innings while pitching both out of the rotation and in a long relief role. He’s fanned 17% of his big league opponents against a 7.2% walk rate. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey worked in Cleveland’s front office from the time Plutko was drafted in 2013 until his eventual hiring in Minnesota following the 2016 season, so he should be quite familiar with Plutko.

Plutko gives the Twins some low-cost depth at a time when they’ve already seen their rotation thinned out. Righty Anthony DeSclafani underwent season-ending flexor surgery before Opening Day, and young right-hander Louie Varland struggled in his initial rotation look after showing promise in his first 22 MLB appearances in 2022-23.

Rookie Simeon Woods Richardson has stepped into the rotation and pitched well in three starts, but Minnesota’s options behind Woods Richardson and Varland aren’t plentiful. Left-hander Brent Headrick is on the 60-day injured list in the minors due to a forearm strain. Top prospect David Festa has pitched to a 2.18 ERA in Triple-A, but he’s also posted a 14.8% walk rate and has all of 33 career innings north of the Double-A level. Right-hander Randy Dobnak has an ERA just shy of 6.00 through his first six appearances of the season. Plutko doesn’t have a great big league track record, but he’ll add a needed depth option that’s had some recent success overseas.

Adam Plutko Eyeing MLB Return

By | at

Right-hander Adam Plutko is eyeing a return to the Major Leagues after a strong two-year stint in the Korea Baseball Organization, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The 32-year-old hurler landed with the 2023 KBO champion LG Twins after a largely nondescript five-year run between Cleveland and Baltimore and has found plenty of success pitching overseas.

In two seasons with the KBO’s Twins, Plutko has pitched to a 2.40 ERA in 285 1/3 innings. He’s still not a prolific strikeout arm, fanning just 21.7% of his opponents, but Plutko sports a sharp 6% walk rate and a solid 46% ground-ball rate during his time overseas. That’s a marked increase over his MLB numbers; from 2016-21 he logged 273 2/3 innings between the Indians and Orioles, recording a 5.39 ERA, 17% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate and 28.8% ground-ball rate — primarily working as a fifth/sixth starter with Cleveland.

Given his age, Plutko isn’t likely to command particularly long-term interest if MLB clubs are intrigued to roll the dice and see what he can bring to the table in a return affair. But he’s a year younger than Josh Lindblom was when he signed with the Brewers out of South Korea (three years, $9.125MM) and two years younger than Drew Rucinski was last year when he signed with the A’s following a successful KBO run of his own (one year, $3MM).

A low-cost deal for one or two years doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility. Even if guaranteed rotation spots are tough to come by, Plutko could be targeted by clubs looking for an affordable swingman to serve as a sixth or seventh starter in the inevitable event that injuries thin out their more prominent rotation options. With 51 career relief outings in the Majors, Plutko is no stranger to being a long man in the bullpen.

Top Ex-MLB Performers In The 2022 KBO Season

By | at

The KBO playoffs are at their final stages, with the Kiwoom Heroes meeting the LG Twins and the winner going on to face the SSG Landers in the Korean Series. A few familiar names from MLB in recent years had strong seasons in Korea, so let’s take a look at three of the top ex-MLB pitchers and three hitters that excelled there in 2022.

Pitchers

Adam Plutko (LG Twins): 162 IP (28 starts), 2.39 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9, 8.3 K/9.

Plutko headed to Korea after struggling mightily in 2021 in Baltimore, pitching to a 6.71 ERA across 38 appearances. That came after four years in Cleveland where he put up a 5.05 ERA across 217 1/3 innings. Plutko had solid walk rates in the majors, but had difficulties with the long ball and posted poor strikeout rates. That’s perhaps not surprising, given scouts often viewed him as a pitcher lacking in elite stuff but with the command and deployment to make up for it. He’s enjoyed tremendous success in his first season in the KBO, however. Plutko is now a free agent, having played the 2022 season on a one-year deal with a $500K base salary and $300K in incentinves.

Drew Rucinski (NC Dinos): 193 2/3 IP (31 starts), 2.97 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 1.6 BB/9, 9.0 K/9.

Rucinski, 33, enjoyed his fourth, and most successful, season in the KBO in 2022. The former Angels, Twins and Marlins pitcher has long been one of the best foreign pitchers in the league, and was the second highest foreign earner this year, taking home a $1.9MM base. He’s shown exceptional durability while in Korea, reaching 30 starts in each of his four seasons. This year, he posted his highest innings total, lowest ERA, and dropped his walk rate by around one batter per nine innings. Rucinski has also seen his ground ball percentage soar while in Korea, and his mark of 66.7% in 2022 is well north of his MLB rate of 48%.

Wilmer Font (SSG Landers): 184 IP (28 starts), 2.69 ERA, 0.9 HR/9, 1.7 BB/9, 8.3 K/9.

2022 was Font’s second season in the KBO, and comfortably his best. The 32-year-old improved his walk rate from a year prior, issuing one fewer free pass per nine innings. That helped his ERA drop from 3.46 to 2.69, but Font also worked deeper into ballgames and threw almost forty more innings in 2022 than a year earlier, all the while maintaining a strong 23.3% strikeout rate. Font bounced around the majors between 2012-20, appearing for six teams but struggling to post consistent results. One of the biggest shifts since his move to Korea is a huge uptick in ground ball percentage, as Font posted 55% and then 51.6% marks across the past two seasons, far above his MLB rates.

Hitters

Jose Pirela (Samsung Lions): (141 games) .342/.411/.565, 28 HR, 55 BB, 81 K, 15 SB.

Pirela suited up for the Yankees, Padres and Phillies in the majors between 2014-19, before making the switch to Japan. After one year with the Hiroshima Carp, he moved to Korea to join the Lions. While Pirela posted strong numbers in his first year, he’s become one of the KBO’s most feared hitters in 2022. The 32-year-old finished second in home runs, hits, average and OBP all while striking out just 12.9% of the time. It was a sizable jump from 2021, when he hit .284/.357/.490 with 28 home runs. While a small dip in strikeouts would’ve helped, he was certainly boosted by a .361 BABIP in 2022, almost 70 points higher than the previous season. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see if Pirela garners any MLB attention this winter on the back of an MVP-level year in Korea.

Anthony Alford (KT Wiz): (80 games) .286/.362/.509, 14 HR, 33 BB, 90 K, 5 SB.

Alford, 28, was released from a minor league deal with the Guardians in May to pursue an opportunity in Korea, where he’s impressed greatly, showcasing some of the exciting talent that made him one of baseball’s top young prospects between 2016-18. Alford tallied 240 plate appearances for the Blue Jays and Pirates with a whopping 37.9% strikeout rate. Those strikeouts were still a problem in Korea, but he cut that back to 27.9%. As a prospect, Alford was always touted as having the power and athleticism to be a star, and while he hasn’t been able to tap into that at the top level, he’s still young enough that a second season overseas with improvements shown could make him an intriguing candidate for a second crack at the majors.

Socrates Brito (Kia Tigers): (127 games) .311/.354/.494, 17 HR, 34 BB, 81 K, 12 SB. 

Released by the Yankees at the end of the 2021 campaign after bouncing around major league teams providing minor league outfield depth, Brito inked his first KBO deal for 2022. While he’d hit just .179/.216/.309 across 218 MLB plate appearances, the 30-year-old found his groove in Korea. Through the minors and into the majors, Brito’s strikeout rate had generally hovered a bit above 20%, but he cut that back to 14.6% in Korea. Brito often put up stellar Triple-A numbers, but struggled in his last season at the level in the Yankees organization, so it’s possible that a strong season in Korea will give him the chance to return to the US and seek another crack as solid outfield depth on an MLB team.

Recapping The KBO League’s International Player Signings

By | at

With the lockout slowing MLB-related transactions to a crawl of minor league deals, transactions involving Korean Baseball Organization teams have taken more of a spotlight on MLBTR’s pages since the start of December.  These moves have included the signings of several names familiar to North American baseball fans, as the KBO League’s clubs have looked to address their allocated three roster spots for non-Korean players.  International-born players can only sign contracts worth a maximum of $1MM in total salary, and players new to the KBO League can sign only one-year pacts.

Though the Doosan Bears have one signing that still isn’t yet official, the other 29 slots have been filled.  It is still possible this list could be adjusted in the coming weeks due to a number of factors — injuries, players returning to North America (for personal reasons or a deal with an MLB team), issues related to the pandemic, or teams just changing their minds after seeing the players in training camp.  Here is the rundown of this winter’s international signings for the 10 KBO League franchises….

Doosan Bears
Jose Miguel Fernandez (deal not yet finalized), Ariel Miranda, Robert Stock

NC Dinos
Nick Martini, Wes Parsons, Drew Rucinski

Hanwha Eagles
Ryan Carpenter, Nick Kingham, Mike Tauchman

Lotte Giants
Charlie Barnes, DJ Peters, Glenn Sparkman

Kiwoom Heroes
Tyler Eppler, Eric Jokisch, Yasiel Puig

SSG Landers
Kevin Cron, Wilmer Font, Ivan Nova

Samsung Lions
David Buchanan, Jose Pirela, Albert Suarez

Kia Tigers
Socrates Brito, Sean Nolin, Ronnie Williams

LG Twins
Casey Kelly, Adam Plutko, Rio Ruiz

KT Wiz
William Cuevas, Odrisamer Despaigne, Henry Ramos

KBO’s LG Twins Sign Adam Plutko

By | at

The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization have signed right-handed pitcher Adam Plutko (h/t to Sung Min Kim). Plutko will receive a base salary of $500K, with a further $300K available in incentives.

Plutko was selected by Cleveland in the 11th round of the 2013 draft and quickly became a well-regarded prospect. For four straight years, from 2014 to 2017, he was considered one of the organization’s top 30 prospects by Baseball America, topping out at #14 in 2016. The reports on him as a prospect noted that his lack of elite stuff could be counteracted by his command and intelligent deployment of his arsenal.

Plutko saw sporadic big league action in his first few seasons, oscillating between the majors and minors, as well as bouncing from the rotation to the bullpen. His longest MLB stretch came in 2019, as he threw 109 1/3 innings with an ERA of 4.86 in 21 games, 20 of them starts. From 2016 to 2020, he logged 217 1/3 total innings with an ERA of 5.05. Those early prospect evaluations about his control proved correct, as evidenced by his 6.3% walk rate. However, he only managed a meager strikeout rate of 16.9%.

Prior to the 2021 season, he was acquired by the Orioles for cash considerations. Baltimore largely used him out of the bullpen, as he appeared in 38 games but just one start. He threw 56 1/3 innings, his walk rate jumping up to 10.6% and his ERA ending up at 6.71. He was designated for assignment in mid-August, clearing waivers and accepting an assignment to the minors. He appeared in 10 Triple-A games before electing free agency at the end of the season.

Plutko, 30, likely would have had to settle for a minor league deal if he stayed in North America. By going to Korea instead, he gets some certainty about his job situation for 2022, with the possibility to earn some extra money as well.

Players Recently Electing Free Agency

By | at

With the regular season over, a series of players are closing in on free agency. The highest-profile will be available as major league free agents, those with six-plus years of MLB service time not under contract with a team. But there will be dozens of players in the coming weeks who qualify for minor league free agency and more quietly reach the open market as well.

Players can qualify for minor league free agency in a few ways. The most notable of these include: players with 3+ years of MLB service time who have been outrighted off their teams’ 40-man rosters this season, players who have been outrighted off a 40-man roster multiple times in their careers, and unsigned players not on a 40-man roster who have spent parts of at least seven seasons on a minor league roster or injured list.

Many of these players won’t officially reach free agency until the start of the offseason, but some were let go by their teams a few weeks early once the regular season concluded. Each of the following players has elected minor league free agency within the past week, according to the MLB.com and Triple-A transactions trackers:

MLB Minor Transactions: 8/18/21

By | at

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Orioles announced that right-hander Adam Plutko cleared waivers and has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. As a player with more than three years of MLB service time, Plutko had the right to elect free agency, but he’s instead decided to accept the assignment. Baltimore acquired the 29-year-old from the Indians for cash considerations just before the start of the season. He went on to work 56 1/3 innings over 38 games as a multi-inning relief option, but Plutko was tagged for a 6.71 ERA. He’ll have a few weeks to try to work his back onto the 40-man roster before the end of the year. If he’s not reselected to the big leagues, Plutko will qualify for minor league free agency this offseason.
  • The Rockies reinstated right-hander Chi Chi González from the COVID-19 injured list before this afternoon’s game against the Padres. He worked three innings of three-run ball in today’s 7-5 Colorado win, his first action since landing on the COVID IL in late July. González has a 6.15 ERA over 93 2/3 innings this year, starting sixteen of his twenty appearances. To open space on the 40-man roster, Colorado transferred utilityman Chris Owings to the 60-day injured list. Owings won’t play again this season after undergoing left thumb surgery.

Orioles Announce Several Roster Moves

By | at

The Orioles announced a series of roster moves today, selecting the contracts of Fernando Abad and Konner Wade, designating Adam Plutko for assignment, optioning Dusten Knight to Triple-A and transferring Bruce Zimmermann to the 60-day IL.

For Abad, this will be his first time on a big league roster since 2019. The journeyman lefty signed a minor league deal with the Nationals before the 2020 season, eventually getting released and signing another minors deal with the Yankees. The O’s then added him on a minor league deal in December. In 25 1/3 Triple-A innings this year, he has an ERA of 4.26. In 330 2/3 MLB innings over his career, he has an ERA of 4.42.

This will be Wade’s second stint with Baltimore this season. The first time around, he only got into a single game, throwing 1 2/3 innings and allowing six earned runs. The 29-year-old was designated for assignment and outrighted in early July, but has earned his way back with a solid Triple-A performance. In 62 1/3 innings at that level this year, he has an ERA of 3.03.

Plutko was acquired just before the season began in a trade with Cleveland but hasn’t performed well enough to hold onto his roster spot. Through 56 1/3 innings this year, he has an ERA of 6.71 with a strikeout rate of 17.3% and walk rate of 10.6%, both of which are worse than league average. Plutko has more than three years’ service time and could refuse an outright assignment and elect free agency if he clears waivers.

For Zimmermann, this is an unfortunate setback as he was almost ready to return from a biceps issue but sprained his ankle in a training room accident, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. It’s unclear how long that ankle issue will keep him sidelined, but he will be eligible to come off the IL this week, since the 60 days are counted from his initial IL placement on June 18th. The lefty has an ERA of 4.83 for the O’s this year over 59 2/3 innings.

 

Orioles Acquire Adam Plutko, Release Yolmer Sanchez

By | at

TODAY: Sanchez has cleared waivers and been granted a release, the Orioles announced.

MARCH 27: The Orioles have acquired right-hander Adam Plutko in a trade with the Indians, The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli reports (Twitter link).  The O’s have officially announced the deal, noting that Plutko was acquired for cash considerations.  Infielder Yolmer Sanchez has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move to open a spot on Baltimore’s 40-man roster.

Plutko is out of minor league options, so the trade allows Cleveland to receive at least a modest return for a player who wasn’t likely to make their Opening Day roster, rather than lose Plutko for nothing on the waiver wire.  Plutko’s 40-man roster space can now be filled by Bryan Shaw, who was in camp on a minor league contract and had already been told that he will make the team.

Originally an 11th-round pick for the Tribe in the 2013 draft, Plutko has a 5.05 ERA/5.71 SIERA over 217 1/3 big league innings, starting 36 of his 50 career games.  Plutko doesn’t miss many bats (only a 16.9% career strikeout rate) and he’s had a lot of trouble keeping the ball in the park, with a 2.03 HR/9 over his four MLB seasons.  On the plus side, he doesn’t issue many walks, and he has displayed some elite spin on his curveball.

Plutko is already 29 years old but still controllable through the 2024 season, which is undoubtedly of interest to the Orioles.  Plutko wasn’t consistent enough to lock down a regular starting job with the pitching-rich Indians, but he’ll immediately become a candidate for the fifth spot in a Baltimore rotation that includes John Means, Matt Harvey, Dean Kremer, and Wade LeBlanc.  Alternatively, Plutko could also be deployed out of the bullpen as a long reliever or swingman.

The Plutko trade is a logical pickup for the Orioles, but the follow-up transaction is unusual, as Sanchez was projected to be the team’s starting second baseman.  The O’s claimed Sanchez off waivers from the White Sox in October, and while Baltimore could simply be taking a calculated risk that another team won’t claim the former Gold Glover, the DFA would seem to indicate that Sanchez isn’t seen as a big factor in the Orioles’ plans.

Sanchez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1MM deal for the 2021 season, but since arb contracts are only guaranteed once the player makes the Opening Day roster, the Orioles will only owe Sanchez 45 days of termination pay (roughly $250K) for being cut in the last half of Spring Training.  While not a huge savings, the financial aspect of the Sanchez DFA can’t be overlooked as a notable factor, considering how the Orioles have been looking to save money whenever possible this offseason.

If Sanchez ends up elsewhere, Pat Valaika, Ramon Urias, Jahmai Jones, and non-roster invite Stevie Wilkerson are on hand as second base options.  The Orioles could juggle playing time between multiple members of this group rather than stick with a true everyday second baseman.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top