Detroit Tigers Pass On Arbitration Offer to Placido Polanco

The Detroit Tigers did not offer second baseman Placido Polanco arbitration, which means any team can sign him without having to forfeit a draft pick since he’s a Type-A free agent.

Polanco, 34, hit .285/.331/.396 with 10 homers and 72 RBI in 675 plate appearances with the Tigers last season. He only struck out 46 times last season, which indicates he makes contact most of the time.

He has been linked to the Phillies multiple times thus far this offseason as many believe they’re eyeing him to be their third base this coming season despite him not playing third since 2004.

In his 11-year Major League career, he is a .303/.348/.414 hitter and he has played in Philadelphia before. The Phillies acquired him from St. Louis for Scott Rolen then traded him to Detroit in 2005.

With the Tigers last year, Polanco made $4.6 million. Many believe he will not cost as much as Chone Figgins or Adrian Beltre, but he could give the Phillies something that no free agent third baseman can.

Polanco is a great situational hitter, something the Phillies currently don’t have. The Phillies have a lot of strikeouts in their lineup, and penciling him into the lineup would add a contact bat who does the little things.

How many times have you seen the Phillies fail to get a key hit with runners in scoring position with two outs or unable to move a runner over? That’s where Polanco would help most.

Don’t be surprised if he is playing third base for the Phillies next season instead of Mark DeRosa, who many think is the favorite to land in Philadelphia or Beltre. Now, it will not cost them a pick to sign him.

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