Twins, Plouffe sign one year deal

Plouffe, center

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Third baseman Trevor Plouffe and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract to avoid arbitration.
 
     Plouffe gets a raise of $2.45 million under Monday’s agreement. He hit .244 last season with 22 homers and a career-high 86 RBIs. He also set career bests in hits (140), runs (74) and games (152), solidifying himself in the middle of the Twins order.
 
     The settlement was $225,000 below the midpoint between the $7.9 million Plouffe had asked for in arbitration and the $7 million Minnesota had offered.
 
     Plouffe’s development as a solid power hitter and capable defensive third baseman led the Twins to move prized prospect Miguel Sano to the outfield. Sano came up through the minors as a third baseman and mostly served as a DH in his 80 games with the Twins last year.