By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Nine-year veteran infielder Trevor Plouffe is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies on a minor-league deal, according to ZoneCoverage.com's Brandon Warne.
The deal includes a big-league spring training invite; Plouffe will earn $750, plus incentives, if he reaches the majors.
Plouffe, 32, appeared in seven games with the Phillies last season from July 10 to July 26; spanning 12 plate appearances and as many at-bats, he slashed .250/.250/.500 with one run scored, two singles, one home run, three RBI, no walks and six strikeouts. Plouffe is most known for the parts of seven seasons he played with the Minnesota Twins from 2010 to 2016.
For now, Plouffe replaces fellow non-roster invitee veteran INF Sean Rodriguez. Rodriguez has a tear in his right meniscus that might require surgery, however the Phillies are optimistic surgery might not be needed, and that Rodriguez is "really coming along well" and might play in a game soon.
Plouffe's signing also fill two other voids: by non-roster invitee INF Gift Ngoepe, who has yet to arrive to camp due to visa issues, and needing another first baseman to help Rhys Hoskins, who "has been handling much of the drills the past few days at first base," notes MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
This game seemed to be never-ending …
Then all of a sudden, PLOUFFE! It was over.#RingTheBell | #BeBold pic.twitter.com/ziJuKNAuVN
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 25, 2018
Phillies getting a little NSFW in the postgame interview 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ic7laXhGjb
— 12upSports (@12upSports) July 25, 2018
The West Hills, California, native's first stint with the Phillies in 2018 was highlighted with his walk-off, three-run home run in the 16th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July. Plouffe homered against Dodgers utility player Enrique Hernandez, who entered after the Dodgers used eight different pitchers spanning the first 15 innings.
The Phillies designed Plouffe for assignment on July 31 to make room for the recently-acquired LHP Aaron Loup. Plouffe remained unclaimed and was sent outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he played since April 25 before his seven-game big-league stint in red pinstripes. He never returned to the Phillies as a September call-up.
