PLOUFFE JOINS THE ATHLETICS
Trevor Plouffe agreed to a one year deal with the Athletics to apparently be their third sacker (pending passing the physical of course). The 30 year old infielder, who had spent his entire career with the Twins, was limited to just 84 games last season because of injuries to his rib cage and oblique. His last two healthy seasons, 2014 and 2015, Plouffe has driven in at least 80 runners. However, he’s nothing more than a compiler with a .247/.308/.420 career slash line, numbers that show him to be nothing more than... just a guy.
One would think that the A’s signed Plouffe to be their third baseman. Seems a bit odd on the surface given that the club has Ryon Healy at third already and it’s not like he didn’t have a rockstar rookie season (.305-13-37 with a .861 OPS in just 72 games). If I had to guess, I would assume that Plouffe and Healy play most days on the corners with Yonder Alonso losing playing time at first base as he becomes the bit player. At least that should be the plan after Alonso had another “Alonso season” with a poor .253/.316/.367 line with seven homers in 482 at-bats. Talk about just a guy.
THIS AND THAT
Carter Capps signed a 1-year, $987,500 deal with the Padres. He didn’t pitch last year, Tommy John surgery, but back in 2015 the guys struck out 58 batters, against seven walks, over 31 innings. Tremendous arm if healthy.
Kole Calhoun had core muscle surgery this offseason and he’s progressed to the point that he’s been cleared to return to baseball activities. He should be good to go for Opening Day. The 29 year old outfielder doesn’t stand out in a meaningful way, but he’s a solid producer who is often underrated in the fantasy game. Note that Calhoun had a .348 OBP last season, a career best, and that the past three seasons he’s averaged 20 homers, 72 RBI and 86 runs a season. Solid is as solid does, and the cost is never exorbitant.
Chris Carter hit 41 homers last season with 94 RBI last season. He’s still looking for a team. Carter had a .346 wOBA last year, five points better than Wil Myers and six points better than Chris Davis. Yet, he still is in search of a team.
Greg Holland wants a two year deal from his new club, whoever that might be. He also wants that deal to include an opt out after one year so he can sign with another team for more money if he kills it in 2017. Hey Greg, I want that too, a contract where I hold all the cards. Neither one of us is getting that Greg. Why would a team give you a chance to reestablish your value only to lose you if you do well? Why not just sign a one year deal then? If you pitch poorly you aren’t going to give the money back for year two, are you? Maybe I’m dense, but why would any team agree to this.
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David Ortiz will not be participating in the WBC according to Dominican Republic manager Moises Alou. Folks, give it up. Ortiz is done. He’s retired. If he were to return he would be the biggest fraud of all-time. Would he give back all the gifts he received on his farewell tour?
Brett Pill signed a minor league deal with the Tigers. The 32 year old had a big season last year with a .317-20-86 in the Korean Baseball Organization. He has no value I would think, but he’s always crushed it in the minors as well (check out his career Triple-A slash line of .301/.340/.511).
Albert Pujols had surgery on his foot in December and he’s begun his physical therapy. He may not be ready for Opening Day, at least is what the reports are suggesting, but it wouldn’t be the first time that Pujols healed quicker than reports suggest. The guy has been a rock of stability, through all the years and all the injuries, only once appearing in fewer than 143 games in his 16-year career (he’s been on the field at least 152 times the last three years while averaging 33 homers and 106 RBI).
Ryan Vogelsong agreed to a minor-league deal with the Twins. The 39 year old righty could spot start or work out of the bullpen if he makes the team. Last season, with the Pirates, he looked like a guy who was pretty much washed up with a 4.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 1.53 K/BB ratio.
Matt Wieters is still looking for a home. With the state of catching, it’s pretty shocking that he’s still sitting out there given that he’s a potential 20-homer bat who plays decent defense. One issue might be his height and how it seems to affect him when framing pitches.
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Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.