JANUARY 18: The A’s have announced the deal. Plouffe gets a $5.25MM guarantee, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter link). He can also earn $150K upon reaching 350 plate appearances, another $300K if he gets to 450, and then $300K more if he reaches 525 trips to the plate, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). There’s also a one-time, $250K trade bonus.
JANUARY 11: Plouffe is expected to receive around $5MM of guaranteed money in the deal, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). There are also incentives, though details remain unknown.
JANUARY 10: The Athletics have an agreement in place with free agent infielder Trevor Plouffe, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The deal, which is pending a physical, will be a one-year agreement, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). She adds that Plouffe is likely to see the bulk of the playing time at third base for the A’s next season, with Ryon Healy shifting to designated hitter and first base. Plouffe is represented by CAA Baseball.
[Related: Updated Oakland Athletics Depth Chart]
Prior to this new deal with the A’s, the 30-year-old Plouffe had spent his entire career in the Twins organization. A first-round pick by Minnesota back in 2004, Plouffe took quite some time to blossom into an everyday Major Leaguer but cemented himself as the Twins’ everyday third baseman beginning in 2012. That season saw Plouffe belt 24 homers in 119 games, and while that mark still stands as a career-best, Plouffe has consistently shown solid pop from the right side of the plate over the life of his big league career. In his first four seasons as a regular, he proved to be a roughly league-average bat, hitting .248/.312/.426 and averaging 23 homers per 162 games played. A right-handed hitter, Plouffe has been significantly more productive against lefties (career .268/.344/.465) than righties (.239/.294/.403).
This past year, Plouffe hit .260/.303/.420 with 12 homers in an injury-ravaged season that included three trips to the disabled list for an intercostal strain, a fractured rib and an oblique strain. Those three maladies combined to limit Plouffe to just 84 games and 344 plate appearances — both his lowest marks since establishing himself as a regular with the Twins. The three trips to the DL, Plouffe’s projected $8.2MM price tag in arbitration (courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) and a stacked corner infield/DH scene in Minnesota prompted the new Twins front office to part ways with Plouffe following the season rather than tender him a contract in arbitration.
Despite possessing fairly notable platoon splits, it seems that Plouffe will be in line for near-everyday at-bats, as was the case during his tenure with the Twins. Plouffe never rated as an exceptional defender at the hot corner, but the converted shortstop went from dreadful Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating marks to above-average grades over the course of his time in Minnesota as he grew more accustomed to his new position. (His 2016 defensive metrics were poor, though certainly one can imagine his persistent injuries impacting his mobility on the field.)
From 2014-15, Plouffe posted a +5 DRS and +8.4 UZR, so with better health there’s reason to believe he can return to form with the glove. That would be an improvement over the younger Healy, who was below average per DRS (-2) and UZR (-9.4). Though Healy may not see many reps at third base in 2017, it seems logical to expect that the A’s will want to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible. The 25-year-old compiled a .305/.337/.524 slash with 13 homers through 72 games as a rookie, suggesting that he could be a 20-homer bat for the A’s even if his .352 BABIP is bound to regress to some extent.
Plouffe also reportedly drew interest from the Red Sox, Braves and Royals, and he was speculatively linked to the Marlins as well. Instead, he’ll opt for a homecoming of sorts, returning to his home state (albeit a few hundred miles north of his Los Angeles area roots) and a presumably larger role as he takes aim at a healthier season in 2017.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
i knew it!
Woot!
Someone convince me this guy is useful
He’s pretty good at defense I guess
His defense draws rave reviews
Played out. You might as well say “dy-no-mite!”
His defense is dy-no-mite!
dy-no-mite? You do not get rave reviews for being able to keep up with the times
Solid defender at 3B and played some games at corner outfield as well. This will allow Healy to get some reps at 1B as well. Defensively very solid, and around .260 hitter with 15 to 20 bombs with 60 RBI to 80 RBI. In 2014 oWAR was 3.9 and 2015 oWAR at 2.5, although 2016 was a bad year (injuries), this will help lower the solid value we could sign him for.
Wouldn’t exactly say defense is his calling card. he’s gradually improved, tho still isn’t one of the better glove guys around. oakland is probably hoping his bat returns to pre 2016 power days is why grabbed him, then if it does will have a good player to flip. Why Ploufe chose Oakland is a mystery, that stadium doesn’t really fit him. Was hoping he’d choose Boston to regain some value platooning (at least) with Sandoval.
fenway would be perfect for his swing.
After watching him over the years in MN, Plouffe has more gap-to-gap doubles power than home run power. The big yard in Oakland might help some balls fall in to raise his average, although Target Field is pretty big as well. Solid defensively at third – if he’s healthy, he should bring a decent prospect back to the Athletics in July.
As an everyday player since 2012, is it possible that Oakland was the only team interested that would give him everyday at bats, which would seem crucial to building value on a 1 year deal even if he does get flipped at the trade deadline.
And how would that concept play in Boston platoon ing with Sandoval as a “just in case” option. Lots of dollars invested in Sandoval.
Lastly maybe he didnt want to play in a fishbowl like Boston, where his every at bat might be disected and critiqued.
He’s more a 3B/1B/DH, he hasn’t played in the OF since 2013, even then it was only 17 games.
Solid pick up for the A’s. Maybe a deadline flip
Absolutely
Good for TP enjoyed watching him play in Minnesnowta he is a stand up player through and through, poised for a comeback
Solid pickup. He’s probably going to platoon at 1B with Alonso, he’s insurance at 2B in case Lowrie needs time to heal, and now the A’s can take their time with the kids at AAA. Joyce, Davis, Plouffe, these are the types of veterans you need to fill out the roster during a rebuild.
Or he plays 3B every day like the article says…
While I think this is a positive pickup for the A’s, don’t get to excited about his defense.
Trevor Plouffe **AND** Rajai Davis. What an offseason haul of riches!
Davis & Plouffe are solid MLB players. Oakland’s young pitchers Manaea, Megden, Graveman should make positive strides in 2017. Plus Sonny Gray is key, a bounceback year could make Athletics a surprise team.
Teams will pay a decent price for these guys at the deadline.
The A’s would be lucky to make the playoffs as a WC. This is purely a risk/reward move. He has a good year at the dish you flip him at the deadline; if not you move on from him next year.
He’s 100% a placeholder for Matt Chapman, who’s already a better defender with more power than Plouffe or Healy. Plouffe’s time with Oakland is more than likely only going to last a couple months before he’s traded to a team in quick need of a 3B – potentially Boston if Pablo is bad or the Mets if Wright gets hurt again.
White Sox will also be shopping Todd Frazier. I suppose Plouffe is the cheaper option to someone, or a team that misses out.
Can an A’s fan fill me in on Oakland? are they rebuilding or what’s their game plan
The A’s are always rebuilding
Except from 2012-2014, which was not long ago.
2012 A’s might be my favorite team to watch of all-time. Fun team…fans were crazy.
Agreed!! The had that swagger and Balfour had his rage, super fun team
This is the last bridge year to Chapman, Barreto, Puk and contention.
Keep in mind their stadium issue will be resolved this year and that will most likely coincide with that huge FA market in a couple years.
Healy and Plouffe both went to the same HS
Coincidently, Kelly Richards also went to the same high school as Healy and Plouffe.
She was also voted most like to freelance from home as a senior
Lol
He doesn’t get rave reviews on his D at 3rd base. Probably not at catcher or the outfield either
He’s much, much better than Healy or Valencia defensively when healthy, which he wasn’t last year. But Chapman is much, much better than he is defensively. If it’s June and Chapman’s hitting .260 with lots of homers then he’s getting the call and Beane is calling teams to trade Plouffe.
He’s just a bridge to Chapman, who despite having an underwhelming BA last year was manhandling pitchers in ST last year and was one of the last guys cut. If Chapman forces the issue, Plouffe will get traded to a team in need of a 3B (Red Sox, Mets etc etc).
The A’s should definitely sign Bautista for RF on a 1 year deal next.
Well, the Stadium issue is proven a lame excuse. They like the bucks too much to spend…
The A’s finally got the guy they always wanted and Plouffe finally got to the team he’s always dreamed of playing for. What a great day
I like your Hollywood style take on this.
Yes, but what’s the corresponding move to open up the 40 man spot?! (and the one for Casilla while we’re at it?!)