Trevor Plouffe

Plouffe entered last season as a steady performer at third base with good power and decent fielding. His 2016 season was hindered by several injuries, starting in early April with a right intercostal strain, and he never got healthy, playing just 84 games due to a knee sprain, a groin strain, a cracked rib and an oblique strain. He showed decent pop with 12 home runs in 319 at-bats, close to his traditional pace, and the lowest strikeout rate of his career, though he still doesn't walk much or hit the ball all that hard. He was placed on outright waivers during the offseason, as the new regime in Minnesota did not want to pay Plouffe in arbitration. Thankfully for him, he managed to land a contract with the Athletics, which seems to have him lined up for consistent playing time at the hot corner. As long as he's able to garner consistent at-bats throughout the season, Plouffe could prove to be a cheap source of power, even while playing half his games in Oakland's pitcher's haven of a ballpark.

Plouffe had another strong season at third base as he's maintained all the improvements in his game. He's hitting for power (22 home runs), has erased worrisome platoon splits from earlier in his career ( .727 OPS against righties) and has become an above average fielder at third base (12th best UZR in MLB). Despite his success, his status as Minnesota's starting third baseman is in flux with the emergence of Miguel Sano and with his rising cost in arbitration. Wherever he plays, he'll be a good source of power at third base for fantasy leagues.

Plouffe had a successful season at the plate, and more importantly, showed tremendous improvement with his glove. He entered last spring training with concerns about his ability at third base and top prospect Miguel Sano knocking on the door for the starting third base job. Sano missed the season with Tommy John surgery and may not be in the majors in 2015. Meanwhile, Plouffe improved his fielding percentage and became an above-average fielder (5th in MLB in UZR). Plouffe improved slightly at the plate as well, walking more and striking out fewer times, while still displaying good power. He also improved against right-handed pitchers (.738 OPS against righties) which should reduce concerns he may become a platoon player. Plouffe did miss the final week of the season with a fractured left forearm, but he's expected to be ready for spring training. While his long-term hold on the third base job is uncertain given Sano and a wave of infield prospects set to arrive in Minnesota, he looks set to begin the season as the everyday third baseman.

Plouffe's status as Minnesota's starting third baseman is in jeopardy, considering his disappointing year at the plate (.701 OPS) and in the field (-8.6 UZR at third base) along with top prospect Miguel Sano knocking on the door of the majors. However, he hit left-handed pitching well last season (.826 OPS), so his future could be in a platoon role at first base, or as a utility player when Sano arrives. He'll need to stay healthy, as he's been injury-plagued the past two seasons. Plouffe played just 129 games last season, spending time on the DL with a concussion and calf injury and also missing time with a wrist injury. Thus far, Plouffe has shown good power in the majors and he can get white hot for short stretches, but his low contact rate and low walk rate make him a batting average risk. The third base job is still likely his to lose in spring training, so he'll get another change to prove he can be an everyday player.

Plouffe had a breakout season in 2012 as he displayed outstanding power and became an everyday starter at third base. However, questions about his defense and his ability to make contact leave his role in 2013 a little unstable. Plouffe tore the cover off the ball at Triple-A in 2011 by hitting .313/.384/.635 with 15 home runs in 51 games, but he struggled in the majors as despite hitting eight home runs he had just a .697 OPS. He also struggled in the field at shortstop, which led the Twins to move him to the outfield and he began last season in a reserve role. However, he got another shot in the infield and made the most of it, taking over the starting third-base job in May and then hitting a blistering .327 with 11 home runs and a 1.126 OPS in June. He then hurt his thumb in July and was never the same at the plate as he hit .225 with a .666 OPS after July 20 (compared to a .909 OPS before the injury). Plouffe also began to struggle in the field as he had 17 errors in 95 games with a -6.8 UZR. There's been talk he could be moved to right field as a result. He has also hit lefties much better in his career (.850 OPS against vs. lefties compared to a .667 OPS vs. righties), which makes him vulnerable to slipping into the bad side of a platoon role. While his batting average is a risk due to too many strikeouts, there's some hope he could improve due to a low .245 BABIP last season. He will enter spring training as Minnesota's starting third baseman and could gain additional eligibility in the infield and outfield if he is moved to a platoon or reserve role.

Plouffe will try to win a utility role with the Twins this spring after showing promise with his bat, but struggling with his glove at shortstop. Plouffe tore the cover off the ball at Triple-A by hitting .313/.384/.635 with 15 home runs in 51 games at Triple-A. However, when called up to the majors and given a shot to take over the everyday shortstop job, Plouffe struggled with his fielding. He made 11 errors in 45 games at shortstop, mostly with his inconsistent throws to first base. After the season, the Twins said they'd move Plouffe to the outfield and to a utility role. He has enough power to help fantasy owners in a utility role, especially since he'll qualify at shortstop in most leagues. However, he doesn't make enough contact or draw enough walks to think his bat can justify a long-term move to the outfield.

Plouffe got his first taste of the majors last season and could win a utility job with the Twins this spring. Plouffe started off hot at Triple-A by hitting 303/.367/.493 before he was called up to the majors on May 20. He struggled in his brief stint in the majors, but did show some power with two home runs in 22 games. He cooled off in the minors by posting a .551 OPS in the second half, but his Triple-A numbers were still respectable for a shortstop ( .244/.300/.430 with 15 home runs). Plouffe has decent power and a strong arm at shortstop, which resulted in some calling him "J.J. Hardy lite" - though he has a lesser walk rate than Hardy, which may result in a weaker batting average. With an uncertain situation at shortstop, Plouffe could figure into the mix or win the starting job next summer.

At age 24, the 2004 first-round pick has shown some power at Triple-A, but his bat just hasn't developed as Minnesota hoped. Plouffe's excellent arm strength and decent range could get him a trial as a utility player eventually.

Plouffe rebounded as a prospect last season, showing improved offensive skills, particularly gap power, while continuing to provide steady defense at shortstop. He's a year away from being ready to help in the majors, but the former 2004 first-round pick doesn't look like a bust after several disappointing years.

One of Minnesota's three 2004 first-round draft picks, Plouffe is thought to be the best defensive infielder in the Twins system. He hit .283/.336/.379 in his first pro season in rookie ball at Elizabethton. He'll need to show more power to get on the fast track for the majors, but at age 19 he has time to develop.

A high school shortstop who is likely to stick at the spot, he’s raw offensively and needs some work with a bat that looks to be gap power, but he has good tools and speed. Projected as a second-rounder, his bonus demands will be in the team’s budget in the first round.