Adam

Plutko

The 32-year-old veteran is back with a major league organization following two seasons in the KBO where he went 26-8 and posted a 2.40 ERA with a 250/69 K/BB ratio across 285 1/3 innings. Prior to his stint in Korea, Plutko spent time with the Orioles in 2021, but most of his time in MLB came with Cleveland from 2016-2020. Plutko has a career 5.39 ERA, 1.38 WHIP in five major league seasons.

From 2016-21, Plutko had a 5.39 ERA in 37 starts and 51 relief appearances as a major leaguer, most of them coming with Cleveland, but he’s been excellent in Korea, having gone 26-8 with a 2.40 ERA the last two years. Merrill Kelly’s success coming back from Korea might help Plutko’s chances of landing a rotation spot somewhere.

Plutko could make up to $1.4 million this season in Korea. The 31-year-old righty emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in Korea last year, finishing his debut with a stellar 2.39 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 149/38 K/BB ratio across 162 innings (28 starts).

Plutko will get $500,000 and can earn $300,000 in incentives. The right-hander elected free agency after being designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles. The 30-year-old has not found his footing in his 273 2/3 innings of MLB action with a 5.39 ERA, but will get a chance to revitalize his career internationally like many pitchers have.

Plutko will head to free agency after posting a lackluster 6.71 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 44/27 K/BB ratio across 56 1/3 innings (38 appearances, one start) with the Orioles this season.

Plutko was designated for assignment over the weekend and ultimately passed through waivers unclaimed. The 29-year-old right-hander owns a career 5.39 ERA in 273 2/3 total innings at the major league level.

The right-hander was acquired by Baltimore from the Indians back in March for cash considerations but has not performed well enough to warrant much cash. Plutko carries a 6.71 ERa and 1.63 WHIP over 56 1/3 innings this season and is unlikely to be claimed on waivers.

Plutko was forced to come on in emergency relief after Travis Lakins exited stage left with an injury concern in the second inning. The reliever wriggled in and out of trouble over his proceeding two frames of work -- two hits and three walks in that short space -- but avoided run-scoring damage. As the owner of a 5.18 ERA and 1.42 WHIP (41 2/3 innings), there is nothing to recommend on the fantasy front, here.

It’s safe to say that this isn’t how Orioles manager Brandon Hyde drew this one up. He had to turn to Cole Sulser in the fifth inning to protect a lead, then Hunter Harvey, Tanner Scott and Tyler Wells to get through the seventh inning. He then turned to presumed closer Paul Fry in a 4-4 game in the eighth inning, and Fry responded by working a perfect inning. After the Orioles scored five runs to take the lead in the top half of the ninth, he sent Fry back out to work a second inning where trouble ensued. Fry got the first out, but allowed the next four hitters to reach and push two runs across, forcing Hyde to call upon Plutko. The 29-year-old hurler walked Jason Castro, then gave up a sacrifice fly to Jose Altuve before retiring Michael Brantley to end the ballgame. It’s unlikely that he has all of a sudden assumed the closer’s role.

The 29-year-old has not started a game since August 21 of last year. The Orioles recently acquired Plutko from Cleveland in late March for cash considerations after posting a 5.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over nine innings in spring training.