Article: Report: Twins Place Trevor Plouffe On Outright Waivers

[Seth Stohs]

According to a tweet from Mike Berardino, veteran infielder Trevor Plouffe has been placed on Outright Waivers. He should clear and become a free agent soon.

 

He was the Twins first of five first-round picks in the 2004 draft out of high school in California. 2016 was his 13th season in the organization.Plouffe steadily worked his way up the Minnesota Twins farm system as a shortstop. He reached the big leagues in May of 2010.

 

Shortstop wasn't for him. He struggled with the throws that season. He also outgrew the position. When given an opportunity as the team's third baseman, he took off with a power-filled month.

 

Overall, he played 723 games in a Twins uniform. He hit .247/.308/.420 (.707) with 18 doubles, 96 home runs and 357 RBI.

 

 

He turned himself from a spotty third baseman to an above average defender. Plouffe works very hard.

 

Most likely the Twins attempted to trade the veteran. A decision needed to be made. Would they tender him a contract in arbitration, or non-tender him. Essentially they made their decision today, allowing Plouffe to become a free agent earlier in the process.

 

The move makes room for Miguel Sano to take over at third base, or at least be able to take it over. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

Today is also noteworthy as the Twins need to add players to their 40-man roster or risk losing them in free agency. They were at 36 players. This move puts them at 35 with more day left.

 

On a more personal level, before my writing days, I went to Twins Fest with a three-year old little girl, my daughter (in case you were wondering). We were "Down on the Farm" an area where minor leaguers signed autographs for free. We walked through the line, and my daughter asked if he would sign a ball for her. He talked to her, smiled, and said that he would sign for her if she would sign for him. He handed the three-year-old a Sharpie and told her to write her name on the plastic white paper in front of him. It became a series of lines on the table, but it was great.

 

Plouffe became a father a little over a year ago and often talked about what it has done. He's always been charismatic, and he was always very friendly to me going back a decade.

 

So, yes, I get this move. I fully understand it. At the same time, I'm sure I'm not the only one with good stories about Plouffe. For what it's worth, I hope he catches on elsewhere and establishes himself again!

 

As Derek Falvey told season-ticket holders in their call-in last night, this is something we're going to have to get used to as Twins fans. His job is to not get too attached... but as fans, always get attached!

 

In addition, Phil Miller reporting that Adam Brett Walker was claimed by the Milwaukee Brewers. He grew up in Milwaukee, and went to Milwaukee Lutheran before going to Jacksonville University. He was the Twins 3rd round pick in 2012.

 

Click here to view the article

[Ernestfickle22]

well Walker leaving kinda sucks same with Plouffe but I hope it works out for the both of them 

[drunksam]

I will miss him, but this was the "right" move.

[Vanimal46]

Nothing better than a good fall cleaning. Good luck to both of them. Keep it coming, Falvey & Levine! 

[d-mac]

It was the right move. I think releasing him now was a classy move by the FO. It gives Plouffe more time to search for a good deal as a free agent and opens up an extra space for an additional minor leaguer. 

[Craig Arko]

This, along with getting the extra option year for Vargas, seems to be making a clear path for Park to return as DH.

[TheLeviathan]

Finally, our long nightmare is over.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Plouffe is a great guy and good player, it was time to move along. They really couldn't get anything for him though? Here's hoping Sano takes his offseason conditioning and training seriously this winter.

 

Losing ABW is a bummer. Maybe the new guys thought he struck out too much? A bit of a head scratcher.

[Willihammer]

Good defender, took good at-bats, and seemed like a rock solid teammate. Too bad about the oblique stuff last season.

[DocBauer]

Always been a Plouffe fan and supporter. I liked him as a Twin. But for all involved it really was the right move. I wish him the very best.

[Doomtints]

I like Plouffe but they should have moved him around 20 GIDP ago.  It's his fatal flaw.  

 

He will get picked up and will be paid well enough.  

[Danchat]

Getting waived is basically the same as being non-tendered, right? And not one team was willing to claim him and give him his arbitration salary of $8-9M... if I understand the process correctly.

 

Well, Sano's got 3B all to himself now. I did like Plouffe, but it was time to move on. It is a pretty big disappointment that the Twins weren't able to trade him, but the market value of 3B is really low right now, so it is what it is. I hope he can find a starting job and have success elsewhere.

[ashbury]

And not one team was willing to claim him

I believe we don't know that yet.

[djvang]

Plouffe got too muscular and bulky which made him injury prone. And he became the slowest Twin since Matt Lecroy.

 

I would've like to have seen Walker get a few big league AB's last fall.

[Danchat]

 

I believe we don't know that yet.

I double-checked my sources and you are correct, he hasn't cleared waivers yet. Some have said that they expect him to clear waivers. Sorry about that false information.

[Brandon]

It's not that I'm attached to Plouffe but I am not sure Sano is the answer there either. I would rather kept plouffe for one more season.

[zchrz]

 

Plouffe got too muscular and bulky which made him injury prone. And he became the slowest Twin since Matt Lecroy.

 

I would've like to have seen Walker get a few big league AB's last fall.

I think Thome, Willingham, and Vargas have him beat in the slow department, but that doesn't really say anything positive for Plouffe. 

 

He kinda became the anti-Dozier, came up incredibly pull happy and lost power as he started to try and hit the ball the other way.

[BK432]

Really happy with this move, and I wish TP the best with his new team, whoever that is.

[Monkeypaws]

Sad day when a decent ballplayer gets waived for bupkis. 

 

Agree with the sentiment it was necessary, but Plouffe was a household favoriite, largely because plouffe is the French word for splash. 

 

Plus he seemed ike a laid back cool guy.

[Riverbrian]

Kinda disappointed about Walker but I'v never seen him play so that disappointment isn't rooted in solid ground. I've no legs for standing on the issue.  

 

Trevor Plouffe I've seen play and he didn't earn the security. I sincerely wish him the best and I sincerely thank him for his efforts representing my team... THE MINNESOTA TWINS.

 

No matter what... he was one of us.  

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

This, along with getting the extra option year for Vargas, seems to be making a clear path for Park to return as DH.

or Palka

[HitInAPinch]

 

It's not that I'm attached to Plouffe but I am not sure Sano is the answer there either. I would rather kept plouffe for one more season.

 

The next time THIS happens, there'll be some howling!   Ok, maybe not howling.  An Ufda or two.....

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/0/5/0/187004050/062916_sano_med_ok9rqg9t.gif

[HitInAPinch]

With the new management, there really wasn't much doubt this move would be made. 

 

Can't wait to see how the rest of the 40 roster turns out!

[operation mindcrime]

Plouffe is a great guy and good player, it was time to move along. They really couldn't get anything for him though? Here's hoping Sano takes his offseason conditioning and training seriously this winter.

 

Losing ABW is a bummer. Maybe the new guys thought he struck out too much? A bit of a head scratcher.

I couldn't agree more on your Sano thoughts! He'd better dedicate himself to some hardcore American Ninja style training. \m/

[Rosterman]

We will all bemoan that the Twins got nothing for Plouffe, not that he seemed in demand. And we may have wanted a look at Adam Walker (shades of Mark Fundeburk) and had every chance to see him hit a home run in September, if the Twins had only called him up. I always question, in the case of Walker, the investment in a player and even adding him to major league possibilities, and then just cutting them loose. Especially when they don't seem to be absolutely horrible. But, players get passed on the depth chart all the time, and two NEW outfielders are added with more on tap for the future years. But, in the case of Plouffe, if they ahd cut him during the season, they could've resigned him (if needed)...but now, he won't have that chance. Which may be good for Plouffe.

 

 

[kab21]

Plouffe was a streaky hitter (similar to Dozier) that just didn't get a hot streak last year. I think he will be a good pickup for a team with a 3B hole but he just didn't have a place to play on the Twins. With this move the Twins have confidence that Sano is healthy (his elbow) and capable of playing 4-5 times/wk at 3B and a day or two at DH. In addition unless Dozier is traded Escobar/Polanco are a solid backup option at 3B.

 

I hope Plouffe finds a great situation and does well but it was time to see what Sano can or cannot do. I would disagree that Vargas's 4th option year opens the door for Park at DH. Park has options also and it will be a competition that Vargas is currently leading. This FO doesn't have a vested interest in Park's contract and needing to make it look good.

[NDTimIrish]

FYI. Plouffe was a  -0.4 in WAR last year and was set to earn a yuuuuuge amount of money. I'm zero percent shocked we weren't able to get anything for him. 

 

That being said, he was a standup guy and won a few fantasy baseball weeks for me a couple years back. Wish him the best. 

[Thrylos]

 

The next time THIS happens, there'll be some howling!   Ok, maybe not howling.  An Ufda or two.....

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/0/5/0/187004050/062916_sano_med_ok9rqg9t.gif

 

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/TrevorPlouffeError.gif

[Seth Stohs]

Plouffe just tweeted this...

 

 

 

[Teflon]

What does this news do for Sano? Motivate him to get in better shape and work on his defense since he's now the full-time 3B  or make him feel it's okay to take it easy this off season since he has no one competing with him at the position...