Orioles Acquire Adam Plutko, Release Yolmer Sanchez
ByMark Polishuk | at
TODAY: Sanchez has cleared waivers and been granted a release, the Orioles announced.
MARCH 27: The Orioles have acquired right-handerAdam Plutko in a trade with the Indians, The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli reports (Twitter link). The O’s have officially announced the deal, noting that Plutko was acquired for cash considerations. InfielderYolmer Sanchez has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move to open a spot on Baltimore’s 40-man roster.
Plutko isout of minor league options, so the trade allows Cleveland to receive at least a modest return for a player who wasn’t likely to make their Opening Day roster, rather than lose Plutko for nothing on the waiver wire. Plutko’s 40-man roster space can now be filled byBryan Shaw, who was in camp on a minor league contract andhad already been told that he will make the team.
Originally an 11th-round pick for the Tribe in the 2013 draft, Plutko has a 5.05 ERA/5.71 SIERA over 217 1/3 big league innings, starting 36 of his 50 career games. Plutko doesn’t miss many bats (only a 16.9% career strikeout rate) and he’s had a lot of trouble keeping the ball in the park, with a 2.03 HR/9 over his four MLB seasons. On the plus side, he doesn’t issue many walks, and he has displayedsome elite spin on his curveball.
Plutko is already 29 years old but still controllable through the 2024 season, which is undoubtedly of interest to the Orioles. Plutko wasn’t consistent enough to lock down a regular starting job with the pitching-rich Indians, but he’ll immediately become a candidate for the fifth spot in a Baltimore rotation that includesJohn Means,Matt Harvey,Dean Kremer, andWade LeBlanc. Alternatively, Plutko could also be deployed out of the bullpen as a long reliever or swingman.
The Plutko trade is a logical pickup for the Orioles, but the follow-up transaction is unusual, as Sanchez was projected to be the team’s starting second baseman. The O’s claimed Sanchez off waivers from the White Sox in October, and while Baltimore could simply be taking a calculated risk that another team won’t claim the former Gold Glover, the DFA would seem to indicate that Sanchez isn’t seen as a big factor in the Orioles’ plans.
Sanchez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1MM deal for the 2021 season, but since arb contracts are only guaranteed once the player makes the Opening Day roster, the Orioles will only owe Sanchez 45 days of termination pay (roughly $250K) for being cut in the last half of Spring Training. While not a huge savings, the financial aspect of the Sanchez DFA can’t be overlooked as a notable factor, considering how the Orioles have beenlooking to save money whenever possible this offseason.
If Sanchez ends up elsewhere,Pat Valaika,Ramon Urias,Jahmai Jones, and non-roster inviteStevie Wilkerson are on hand as second base options. The Orioles could juggle playing time between multiple members of this group rather than stick with a true everyday second baseman.
94 Comments
More meat for the AL East to feast.
Dying at this comment.
Tigers are vegans these days.
Tigers aren’t in the AL East
Tigers sometimes aren’t present in the Central but sense has no presence in you.
Nobody said they were in the East. It was a little jab, and next time I’ll include Royals, Twins, White Sox to make sure even you know it was a harmless jab. Thank you and the upvoters for nothing.
Guest is a bit touchy..,
He’s a south pole guest…
Your tigers comment made no sense. That’s the reason you only find it funny
Tigers are not in the East.
Just included the whole MLB. Hahaha
Was going to say should have used Blue Jays but apparently they eat some meat:
pedaldrivenprogramming.com/2008/04/bluejays-are-ca…
That is a god awful rotation
He’s probably they’re number two starter so good for him
Yuck
An intelligent comment; you clearly follow the O’s carefully.
memo to O’s fans
You’ll think Plutko is going to be good and then he isn’t
Think about this . Indians have lost Kluber, Bauer, Clevinger, Carrasco and Plutko wasn’t good enough to take one spot in Cleveland rotation.
I wish him nothing but the best, but I’m glad Cleveland isn’t wasting a roster spot on him this season
Bingo!
It’s now undeniable that the orioles are the team to beat in the AL
Plutko and Franco in the ASG
I’d say it’s them and the Pirates fighting for scariest in the league
Gotta give a “thumbs up” to that sarcasm!
And everybody will be beating them.
He has a good change up and control pitcher….how good he is, can he be, I just don’t know
He sucks.
Gets detonated by Boston, Tampa and the Jays. I don’t think he’s ever faced the Yankees to get blasted.
But is he a vegan? Does he get blasted by the Tigers?
Plutko is going to have a breakout year and be our #1 starter. Mark my words
Also has outstanding spin rate on his curve and has increased use of his cutter of late. Perhaps FO likes something here.
There has got to be better pitchers who end up on waivers over the next week. I’m sure they didn’t give up much, but definitely an odd guy to target.
Typically, “cash considerations” in a case like this is the waiver fee. Basically, the team pays the same amount they would if they claimed him off waivers, but jump to the head of the line.
Nice little tidbit of inside info.
It was for cash considerations.
I like him more than most Indians fans have always seemed to. He’s nothing special and his ERA usually ends up around 5 when it’s all said and done, but he can put together some good starts and even at his worst he can soak up some innings at the back of a rotation. He also seems like a great teammate and guy to have around the clubhouse.
Good for him that he can at least have a shot at starting consistently instead of being just a spot starter or long relief guy.
charles nagy did that for years, but he had the benefit of a all world offense behind him.
He is there to soak up innings and protect the young pitchers, who are coming off a mere 60 game season and who cannot be relied upon to be effective all season.
I thought Sanchez was going to be our starting 2b this year. Now I’m curious who has the inside track. Valaika? Wilkerson? Urias? Or is the Opening Day starter currently on someone else’s team today?
I would take Jason Kipnis
His balls have great spin as they fly out of the park. Sanchez was expendable because this pitching staff isn’t going to give the infielders much work.
Chris Davis when he comes off the IL…..
Valaika and Urias, for now. Jones and Martin also potential call-ups.
Strange they released a pretty decent defense awarded golden gold second baseman when actually they need folks that know how to infield the baseball.
The Indians are a sad organization trading players for cash so they can make payroll….Mike Freeman , Adam Plutko. They made Jake Bauers the starting 1B and he had ZERO RBIs this spring. Austin Hedges has struck out 18 times in 32 spring at bats. Oh and they are part of the cancel culture changing their name and logo.
Very sad…..
So sad that they are second winningest team in MLB since the start of 2013 only behind the Dodgers. Baltimore can only wish to be that sad.
And never won a thing
At least they haven’t been eliminated in April every year.
I mean the O’s were the winningest team in the AL from 2012-2016.
@BashBroJoe : No room for rational comments in this discussion
There was the AL Pennant in 2016 and the division a few times but otherwise they never won anything. Kind of like saying other than Kluber, Lee, Sabathia, Bauer and Biebier they never had any Cy Young Award Winners. And considering that in 2017 and 2018 the Title went to a pair of teams that cheated it’s possible 1 of those years could have ended the now 73 year long Title Drought.
We get it dude…they suck. But I’d rather actually have at least a plan and tank than be a mid 70s win team and go down in late August. Nobody cares if you go down in April or September, they don’t give out pennants for almost being competitive.
You probably couldn’t give away Astros tickets a decade ago, all of a sudden everyone’s a fan down there, and the tanking is a distant memory.
Trading players for cash is common and much better than losing them to waivers for nothing.
Spring training stats are meaningless.
The name change is overdo.
Who stole your lunch money? Why are you so angry?
Actually, Indians have won more games than any AL team but Yankees over last ten years, I’m pretty sure. They helped Freeman and Plutkonas they weren’t making the team. If Bauers, without an option, doesn’t hit in first 40 games, he’s gone. Last and final chance for a one time promising prospect. Hedges is likely the best defensive back up catcher in MLB. That’s why he’s there. It’s a very well managed franchise that takes care of its players, who in turn like being there. Changing the name, it’s time.
Actually, Indians don’t play in a real division. Had they been stuck in the AL East they would not have that many victories. Central does not have a rich history of success and they should know their role as such.
Solid assessment.
I feel for you says this Tiger fan.
The Tigers had an owner that spent like a drunken sailor for years before he died. Even Forbes estimated the Tigers would lose $30 MM plus a year while every other team would show a profit.
The Player agents took advantage of an old man… I read that the Tigers did lose $30M+ per year up to 2020 which is less than Miguel Cabrera gets paid. Lawyers! Then COVID hit and really sank the team.
I’ll give Al Avila credit for sticking to his plan. Still, the Tigers seem to have the worst scouts in MLB which is no small hindrance.
Very sad how you somehow find a way to bring up “cancel culture” in a non-political chatboard.
OIC.. ha, trading Plutko and Freeman to make payroll? They weren’t going to make the roster. It was either release them and get nothing or trade them for cash. Simple choice. These moves are too small to troll about.
As an O’s fan I don’t think there’s anything sad about the Indians. They’ve done quite well.
I thought Yolmer Sanchez was going to be their regular 2B?
I don’t see why he was designated instead of Ruiz. Neither can hit, but Yolmer is a gold glover.
Sanchez is out of options and is a free agent after this year ( after this week). He was just passing through anyway. Ruiz has options and 4 more years of team control. Maybe going to the minors will help. Plus Franco is also a free agent after this year and is probably gone by the trade deadline.
Ruiz is a lefty hitter on a roster with very few of them. Plus, he has options.
Cash considerations, which makes me wonder what they’ll do with that $99.99?
Well, the Indians owner was going to use that $100 to buy laundry detergent for the club for the year. Then he remembered that the club is changing their name (and maybe team colors) next year. He has decided to forego washing uniforms this year. Rumor has it (a rumor that I started here 😉 ) that Paul Dolan was shown on security cameras at his local Pilot/Flying J (insert irony here) truckstop purchasing $98 dollars worth of Powerball tickets and a Yoohoo.
That is a terrible rotation.
Quite possibly but if young talent develops over the season I’ll take it.
Meet the Orioles’ number 2 starter.
Kindergarten seems more apt.
Plutko is a major league pitcher in a major league roster. Can anybody on this forum say that much? You all would give anything for that. Being in the Orioles rotation is far better than complaining about it from your basement. If you want to complain, consider that for a million dollars you can pay 50 teachers who don’t stink.
What a silly argument…he’s an X but you aren’t so pipe down. Then assumes teachers are paid $20K a year, Oy!
Try 20 teachers in most towns.
Should have been Bauers.
I would of sent both to them for the same cash consideration. Plutko can be in their rotation and Chris Davis might be the only major league first baseman worse than Bauers. Could be a win win
The Orioles need about 20 pitchers this year to give them 60+ innings and then be disposed of. Plutko seems to fit that mold, use up his innings and then outright him to AAA (nobody will claim him if he’s thrown 70-80 innings by August).
Imagine going to Baltimore thinking your gonna finally gonna get some playing time and get designated for a AA starter. Poor guy
Curious where Yolmer winds up.
Back to the White Sox perhaps
What did the Tribe get?
.01 cent
Plutko is basically a poor man’s Josh Tomlin.
And Baltimore is basically a poor man’s everywhere…
Good Lord! The stupid rants here are a bit much. As an Indians’ fan, I’ll describe what the Orioles are getting. They’re getting a BOR SP that will take the ball every 5th day and give you 5 IP or more consistently. He’s not the type of pitcher that will throw complete games commonly and he’ll never be in the ERA lead, but he won’t be at the bottom either. He doesn’t walk many and he lives around the strike zone. While none of these characteristics are going to win a CY or even be at the top of a rotation, they have value. Especially to a team that is rebuilding. If he’s given the ball every 5th day, you’ll see some gems, a few turds, but mostly decent starts.
The Orioles continue to be satisfied being mediocre with these moves they make year in and year out.
People forget, the metrics say he’s going to blossom in Baltimore. Cough
Fun fact, if you look at the all time leaderboards for pitching on Fangraphs, and set the minimum IP to 200, Adam Plutko leads all of baseball in homeruns per nine innings. Granted, if you set that threshold a little lower you’ll see some other names (fellow Oriole David Hess is at 190 IP and is fractionally worse, and if you set it to 50 Plutko is like 15th in the ranking to a bunch of guys who pitched around 60 IP).
Nobody has ever given up this many homers for this long, and kept pitching. Plutko will be arbitration eligible after this season, if he manages to survive pitching in a division with 4 very homer friendly parks.
To me not a bad signing for the Orioles. Can start, be a middle reliever and eat up some innings. Everyone seems to blast this guy but he really is not that bad of a pitcher. Yes he will never lead in any pitching category or even be a MVP or better. But you certainly can give him the ball and be in the game.
As long as you score 6 or 7 runs in those games he pitches.
Idk i just think its stupid to get rid of Sanchez. Here’s a guy Who could easily play second all year for us, a guy who won a good glove but you release him for a guy who still probably won’t amount to much of anything. Ok well hope it works out. More then likely won’t because in order to win in our division or our stadium you need great pitchers and if you don’t have great pitchers you better have a hell of a lineup that can put up runs
I’d really like to see Jahmai Jones get some time at 2nd base this year. He’s a prospect that has intrigued me for a while for whatever reason.
I wished they would of kept Sanchez too but I think the Orioles want to carry more pitchers than anything. I would not be surprised if they don’t sign Odor though.
Year four of the ten year rebuild. Or is it year five? Slow going whatever it is.
memo to O’s fans
You’ll think Plutko is going to be good and then he isn’t
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