Article: Report: Twins Place Trevor Plouffe On Outright Waivers

[Blake]

 

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...

Sano to DH, Vargas to First and Park to Third!

[jimmer]

 

Plouffe just tweeted this...

 

You got a reprieve, Trevor.  Hopefully you're healthy this year and get picked up by a team that is actually a contender.  You sure weren't going to be on a contender if you stayed here.

 

Go Trevor!

[jimmer]

 

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

 

 

The howling will only come from those allowed to comment on his 'defense'.  The one, or maybe ones, that aren't will be chuckling silently to themselves:-)

Edited November 19, 2016 by jimmer

[sorney]

I thought Plouffe was decent....but this team won 59 games last year.  Whatever the new front office has to do to clean house, so be it.

[spinowner]

 

Plouffe is a great guy and good player, it was time to move along. They really couldn't get anything for him though? 

Everyone knew the Twins weren't going to sign him. No team would make a trade for someone who was going to be a free agent.

[mikelink45]

Good luck to Plouffe and Walker I hope they both have great careers and that we regret releasing them, but at the same time, way to go Twins, I am delighted to see some risk taking. 

[jimmer]

 

Good luck to Plouffe and Walker I hope they both have great careers and that we regret releasing them, but at the same time, way to go Twins, I am delighted to see some risk taking. 

Yup, good luck to them both. I don't think getting rid of Walker was taking a risk. As far as Plouffe goes, he had injuries. He's an easy bounceback candidate and should help a team if he's healthy.  They are freeing up the 3B spot.  Hope their selection to fill it steps up.

Edited November 19, 2016 by jimmer

[twinsnorth49]

Culling the herd is necessary sometimes. Plouffe was probably a bit under appreciated around here but he certainly needed to go in order to get this crate moving forward.

 

Where's Halsey? Too drunk from the celebration I imagine.

[PseudoSABR]

The arbitration system is broken.  It's stupid that every team but the Twins can pay Plouffe less money*. The forced pay increases within the system far too often force teams to non-tender their home-grown talent when they have an off-year (or injury) in the final years of arbitration.   The previous salary should have no bearing on an arbitration number--perhaps time-served should or previous production (but not salary itself); if a player has a career year in his year of arbitration, but gets hurt or regresses back to the mean, non-tendering is far too often the outcome.  The system deemphasizes teams retaining their own talent in such situations, when it should do the opposite. 

 

This is the right move.  But Plouffe probably would have had a place on this team (or have been a tradeable asset) at a (much) lower cost. 

 

*I suppose Plouffe could have accepted a pay cut, but I doubt that outcome happens very rarely if at all.

[Lefty74]

Think the world of Trevor but fully understand and respect the thinking of Falvey/Levine. He will not be enough of a difference maker in the near term and Twins are building for the future.

 

I'm more impressed with moving Centeno to AAA and letting Walker go. Neither will ever be a part of a contending team. I know lots of fans like Walker's homeruns, but his history of SO's is off the charts. Centeno is a pitchers worst friend. He appeared to be wearing boxing gloves behind the plate. I've been amazed at how little emphasis we have paid on catchers since Mauer. His concussion issues have done more to doom the Twins than any other factor. He was an outstanding receiver and hitter. Since he was moved out we have really struggled.

[Miraclebat]

 

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.

If Sano is able to do the same thing that Plouffe did "turn himself into a solid defensive 3rd baseman"  Then.....this move needed to happen if there were no trade partners.

[Miraclebat]

 

Think the world of Trevor but fully understand and respect the thinking of Falvey/Levine. He will not be enough of a difference maker in the near term and Twins are building for the future. I'm more impressed with moving Centeno to AAA and letting Walker go. Neither will ever be a part of a contending team. I know lots of fans like Walker's homeruns, but his history of SO's is off the charts. Centeno is a pitchers worst friend. He appeared to be wearing boxing gloves behind the plate. I've been amazed at how little emphasis we have paid on catchers since Mauer. His concussion issues have done more to doom the Twins than any other factor. He was an outstanding receiver and hitter. Since he was moved out we have really struggled.

Hard to argue with any of that.  I think you could say the same thing about Santana and Grossman...and protect a couple of more players with the potential to be a part of a contending team in the future.

[roger]

Thanks for the updates, Seth.

 

I see spring training as a battle between Vargas & Park for DH/backup first baseman. Loser to Rochester. Appears to me that they made the decision between Walker & Palka. Good to see Management making those decisions.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Culling the herd is necessary sometimes. Plouffe was probably a bit under appreciated around here but he certainly needed to go in order to get this crate moving forward.

 

Where's Halsey? Too drunk from the celebration I imagine.

underappreciated? Maybe, definitely not undervalued among Twins fans. Clearly mean, median and mode third baseman, and most of us(myself as much as anyone) were clamoring to trade him.

 

I do wonder how hungover Halsey is right now....

Edited November 19, 2016 by Sconnie

[diehardtwinsfan]

Never saw anything in Plouffe indicating he was a bad guy, so definitely wish him well.  He could get hot sometimes and absolutely mash the ball.  Hopefully he catches on somewhere else. 

 

That said, the move needed to happen.  I like what they're doing so far. I'll be more curious how they approach their tradable assets.

[HitInAPinch]

 

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

 

Yea, there were some real 'low-lights' this past season   

[Thrylos]

 

Plouffe just tweeted this...

 

 

He is technically wrong:  He did not get fired.  Was reassigned to another part of the company and quit

 

Good luck to him.

[shs_59]

On defense and merit alone, I'm suprised the new regime couldn't get a C+ or B- prospect for him.

 

When healthy, Plouffe has shown he's .250 - . 265 hitter with 18-25 HR pop, and well above average D at 3B.

 

If the quadracepts thing kept the Twins from moving Plouffe to a team with a prospect or whatever thats really a shame, he'll sign with someone like Pittsburgh or Anaheim and probably rake.

 

Remember the first 1/2 of 2015 , Trevor Plouffe and I believe one or 2 others single handedly kept the Twins offense afloat right out of the gates, propelling a near playoff season.

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

On defense and merit alone, I'm suprised the new regime couldn't get a C+ or B- prospect for him.

 

When healthy, Plouffe has shown he's .250 - . 265 hitter with 18-25 HR pop, and well above average D at 3B.

 

If the quadracepts thing kept the Twins from moving Plouffe to a team with a prospect or whatever thats really a shame, he'll sign with someone like Pittsburgh or Anaheim and probably rake.

 

Remember the first 1/2 of 2015 , Trevor Plouffe and I believe one or 2 others single handedly kept the Twins offense afloat right out of the gates, propelling a near playoff season.

 

This is why I doubt the old regime had much in the way of decent offers for him.  The new regime would have no doubt traded him if there was value.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Plouffe has lost his edge. Hard to get that back.

 

Generous guy for sure, but I am not going to wish him well, since he does not seem to be hurting, right?  

Edited November 19, 2016 by Hosken Bombo Disco

[Mr. Brooks]

On defense and merit alone, I'm suprised the new regime couldn't get a C+ or B- prospect for him.

 

When healthy, Plouffe has shown he's .250 - . 265 hitter with 18-25 HR pop, and well above average D at 3B.

 

If the quadracepts thing kept the Twins from moving Plouffe to a team with a prospect or whatever thats really a shame, he'll sign with someone like Pittsburgh or Anaheim and probably rake.

 

Remember the first 1/2 of 2015 , Trevor Plouffe and I believe one or 2 others single handedly kept the Twins offense afloat right out of the gates, propelling a near playoff season.

Nobody was going to pay him $8- $9 million next year, which is what he would have gotten in Arbitration.

Now, any team that would have been interested can just sign him for $3- $4 million and not have to give up a prospect.

Of course, we might have been able to get a C prospect if we kicked back a few million bucks.

[Seth Stohs]

 

He is technically wrong:  He did not get fired.  Was reassigned to another part of the company and quit

 

Good luck to him.

 

OK... 

[HitInAPinch]

Every GM in baseball knew that the Twins had something of a roster pinch between 1st - DH and, to a lessor extent, 3rd.  All they had to do is wait for the Twins to release Plouffe.  Pretty easy decision.  No reason to pay a higher salary or give up any kind of player in return.

[HitInAPinch]

Just read about Plouffe's release in the St. Paul paper.  Get this:

 

"New Twins general manager Thad Levine left a detailed voice message on Friday “explaining the situation,” said Plouffe, who was working out at the time."

 

Released via Voice Message ??  Not cool......

 

http://www.twincities.com/2016/11/18/minnesota-twins-place-trevor-plouffe-on-outright-waivers/

[jimmer]

 

Just read about Plouffe's release in the St. Paul paper.  Get this:

 

"New Twins general manager Thad Levine left a detailed voice message on Friday “explaining the situation,” said Plouffe, who was working out at the time."

 

Released via Voice Message ??  Not cool......

 

http://www.twincities.com/2016/11/18/minnesota-twins-place-trevor-plouffe-on-outright-waivers/

yeah, really not cool how they did it.  there's a way to be a human being while also doing business.  

 

GO PLOUFFE!

Edited November 19, 2016 by jimmer

[Mr. Brooks]

Well I'm guessing they didn't necessarily want to do it via voice mail, but I guess I don't understand what you expected them to do if Trevor didn't answer his phone.

I would imagine they figured he'd rather hear it from a voice mail rather than find out from social media.

[luckycharmguy]

Welp, my 'Plouffe There It Is' shirt is now a collector's item. He seemed to be a quality guy and a good teammate. Too bad the production wasn't enough to trade him and get some low-end pitching prospects last year which the team desperately needs. Hope to see him catch on and be productive somewhere. Happy the 3rd base is now open for Sano but a little sad today. 

[jimmer]

 

Well I'm guessing they didn't necessarily want to do it via voice mail, but I guess I don't understand what you expected them to do if Trevor didn't answer his phone.
I would imagine they figured he'd rather hear it from a voice mail rather than find out from social media.

Um, perhaps tell him in person or, when Plouffe didn't answer, ask him to call him back?

[jimmer]

 

Welp, my 'Plouffe There It Is' shirt is now a collector's item. He seemed to be a quality guy and a good teammate. Too bad the production wasn't enough to trade him and get some low-end pitching prospects last year which the team desperately needs. Hope to see him catch on and be productive somewhere. Happy the 3rd base is now open for Sano but a little sad today. 

well, Ryan said he didn't try to trade Plouffe.  The guy averaged 3 WAR in the previous two seasons.  A guy like that SHOULD have value if you try and move him.

 

Some have gotten what they want.  Enjoy. Should be funny to watch.

Edited November 19, 2016 by jimmer

[Mr. Brooks]

Um, perhaps tell him in person or, when Plouffe didn't answer, ask him to call him back?

I don't think Plouffe is still in Minnesota, the season has been over for almost 2 months now.

 

Yeah he could have said that, but maybe he had a lot of calls to make at that time (it was a busy day for roster moves), couldn't be sure he'd be able to take Plouffe's call back, and didn't want him to find out via social media.

 

I mean maybe he did it this way because he's an a-hole who treats people like crap, but I don't know why you would assume that to be the case when there are other possibilities. I also doubt the Pohlads would have hired someone like that.