Athletics sign Trevor Plouffe to 1-year deal

The Athletics have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent third baseman Trevor Plouffe, according to a report from FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal. Financial terms are not yet known.

Plouffe, 30, was outrighted off the 40-man roster by the Twins in November before electing free agency. He has drawn interest from multiple teams, with the Braves and Red Sox among the clubs looking to sign him this winter.

Plouffe will take over as a starter at third base for the A’s, who traded Danny Valencia to the Mariners earlier in the winter. Plouffe joins Matt Joyce and Rajai Davis as short-term additions to a rebuilding Athletics’ club, and will surely be considered a trade candidate at July’s non-waiver deadline if he performs well.

Plouffe hit .260/.303/.420/with 12 homers and 47 RBI in 84 games with the Twins last year, and owns a career .247/.308/.420 line in parts of seven seasons with the club. His release last month came as a bit of a surprise, though Minnesota appears ready to go with Miguel Sano at the hot corner.

Plouffe was considered one of the top third base options available this offseason behind Justin Turner, who re-signed with the Dodgers on a four-year contract. Teams looking to add a third baseman will likely consider Luis Valbuena, Aaron Hill and Gordon Beckham as remaining free-agent options on short-term deals.