The Minnesota Twins avoided going to arbitration by striking a deal with third baseman Trevor Plouffe, the team announced Friday.
The @Twins & Trevor Plouffe avoid arbitration agreeing to a one-year $2.35MM contract today. #MNTwins
— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) January 17, 2014
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson is reporting that pitchers Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak also avoided arbitration by agreeing to deals. Duensing will make $2 million while Swarzak will take home a salary of $920,000.
According to the Star Tribune, Plouffe’s salary will increase by more than four times what he made last season ($520,000).
Plouffe burst onto the scene with an impressive power surge in which he blasted 14 home runs between June 2 and July 3 of the 2012 season.
“It’s hard to explain,” he told the Pioneer Press at the time. “I’m just trying to ride the wave as long as possible. I’m trying to help the team win. I’m putting good swings on pitches, laying off pitches, getting myself into better counts.”
The wave didn’t last long. His power numbers dropped from 24 home runs in 2012 to just 14 in 2013.
According to 1500 ESPN, pitchers Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak are still eligible for arbitration. Both were tendered contracts in December.
