Trevor

Plouffe

Plouffe has batted just .200/.271/.325 over his last 325 plate appearances at the major league level. The 32-year-old will probably have to settle for another minor league contract on the open market.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that he’ll get $750,000 if he’s in the majors. Plouffe spent a bit of time at the major league level with Philadelphia in 2018 before getting designated for assignment and finishing the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The former Twins third baseman holds a weak .200/.271/.325 batting line over his last 325 plate appearances in the bigs. He turns 33 years old this June.

Plouffe, a 2004 first-round pick, has only occasionally flashed offensive talent while hitting .245/.333/.344 with seven steals in 12 attempts for Fort Myers. It’s hardly time to give up on him, but the 20-year-old will probably need to return to Fort Myers next year. If he fails to develop over the next couple of seasons, it’s possible that the Twins could put him back on the mound. He was thought of fairly highly as a pitcher coming out of high school.

Plouffe finished the game 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. He connected on the solo shot off of Everett Teaford in the second inning. He’s seen only sporadic playing time so far this year, earning the start in right field in this one. With his shortstop eligibility in most fantasy leagues, he is an intriguing option should he receive consistent at-bats.

Mauer fouled a ball of his knee on Sunday, but it’s not a major concern. He has played every game this season, so it’s probably a smart time to rest him. Ryan Doumit will catch Monday while Trevor Plouffe plays right field.

Plouffe actually got the start at shortstop in this one before moving back to the outfield. The Twins primarily see him as an outfielder these days, but he still has shortstop eligibility in AL-only leagues, making him a nice $1 pick.

Parmelee entered Sunday’s game hitting just .188/.253/.275 in 87 plate appearances, while Plouffe was at .130/.277/.204. What Plouffe has going for him, perhaps, is that he is out of options and Minnesota would probably not take the chance of losing him for nothing at this point. He can also play multiple positions, which Parmelee decidedly cannot. Parmelee has minor league options and could use time at a level at which he’s never played, Triple-A. Mackey speculates that shortstop Pedro Florimon could be promoted very soon. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire praised the young infielder Sunday. “He can pick it... One of the better fielders we have in the organization,” the skipper said.

He should be back to 100 percent in the next day or two. Trevor Plouffe will fill in at second base Monday while Chris Parmelee makes the start in left. Josh Willingham will serve as the DH.

Ryan Doumit is catching and Trevor Plouffe is playing right field as the Twins host the Angels. Mauer is likely to see regular starts at first throughout this summer.

Ryan said the injury is not serious, but Plouffe won’t play again until Wednesday. Plouffe is making the transition to the outfielder this spring. The former first-round pick has appeared in only 17 games in the outfield in the majors and minors, as compared to over 700 games as a shortstop and over 100 at second and third base.