Philadelphia Phillies Sign Placido Polanco, Fill Hole at Third Base

From 2002 to 2005, Placido Polanco was a consistent, dependable second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. When Chase Utley burst onto the scene, Polanco was regulated to splitting time at third base.

Now the 34-year-old is returning to Philadelphia, this time as the starting third baseman. The Phillies and Polanco have agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract. A mutual option for a fourth year is also included as well as $450,000 available in award incentives.

After Pedro Feliz’s option was declined earlier in the offseason, the National League champions were rumored to be interested in Adrian Beltre, Chone Figgins, Mark DeRosa and Polanco. When the Detroit Tigers declined to offer Polanco arbitration, the Phillies zeroed in on their man.

The familiarity with the organization and the dependability were key in the decision to sign the two-time Gold Glove winner.

Just as in 2008, when Phillies’ fans were hoping to see the signing of a notorious left fielder to replace the departing Pat Burrell, many expected and preferred that Figgins, Beltre or DeRosa be signed. And just as he did last offseason, Ruben Amaro Jr. has taken the less popular route with Polanco.

That is not to say this is a poor decision.

Polanco has hit for a career .303 average and has yet to strike out more than 50 times in one season. He won a Silver Slugger in 2007 with the Tigers, was named the 2006 ALCS MVP and was named to the 2007 All-Star team.

He is likely the most affordable option at third base, leaving the team with more money available to bring in help to the rotation and the bullpen.

The bottom line is that Polanco is a step up from Feliz, is familiar with the organization, is consistent and dependable and came in for a cheap price.

This is merely the beginning of what is expected to be yet another interesting offseason in Philadelphia.

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Placido Polanco Gone from Tigers, reunites with Phillies

Placido Polanco didn’t receive an arbitration offer from the Tigers, making him all the more valuable on the open market.  He didn’t last long on that open market and is reportedly heading to the Philadelphia Phillies.

It is being reported that Polanco is getting a 3-year deal worth $18M.  There is a mutual option for the fourth year.  The Phillies obviously don’t have room for Polanco at second base since they have Chase Utley, so it appears that Placido will be making a return to third base.

This closes the Polanco chapter in Detroit and I think it was a good one.  Polanco was a steal in the first place and he was never tagged with the label of “overpaid”.  Polanco played on some very good Tiger teams, but I’m glad the Tigers didn’t pony up this kind of cash to keep him.  Good time for both parties to move on.

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It’s Official: Philadelphia Phillies Ink Placido Polanco

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Placido Polanco Returns to Philadelphia Phillies to Play Third Base

As word starts to trickle in, it appears imminent that Placido Polanco will return to Philadelphia to play third base for the Phillies.

What has been reported for the past two days and was on the “verge” of happening, was verified when Philadelphia WCAU Channel 10 NBC sportscaster John Clark caught up with Polanco Thursday morning, as the former Detroit Tiger was in town to take a physical.

I first got word of the signing through a text from a friends of mine who works with Clark. 

I looked at every Web site I could think of and turned on WIP, all of which had the “imminent” status on the signing.

It was not until early this afternoon that Jayson Stark of ESPN reported the signing and having Clark speaking with Polanco, reportedly at the airport.

The terms of the deal are not finalized. Reports say it is a three-year, $18 million deal. My buddy said it was a two year deal, but I think it is being reported that way, because the third year would be at the club’s option.

Polanco is a Type-A free agent, so the decision by the Tigers not to offer him arbitration means the Phillies could sign him without losing their first-round draft pick.

Polanco is a career .303 hitter. Last year he hit .285 with the Tigers with 10 home runs and 72 RBI. He also does not strike out a lot: He had 46 strikeouts in 618 at-bats.

He also had a .997 fielding percentage with two errors in 731 chances.

Polanco played with the Phillies from 2002 to mid-season 2005. It is the familiarity with the two parties that helped seal the deal.

What does this mean for the Phillies?

They get a near .300 hitter who has a great glove. I remember him playing second and third for the Phillies.

Polanco played second for his time with the Tigers, but has experience at third.

All along I have wanted Angels‘ third baseman Chone Figgins, but he might cost too much in terms of years of contract in the free agent market.

Adrian Beltre of the Seattle Mariners was another option at third, but he can now be ruled out.

Polanco can also spell Utley at second base.

That would leave Greg Dobbs to play third.

That scenario might weaken the defending National League champions offense and defense.

Juan Castro also could fill in at third, but it might open the door to the Phillies getting Cardinal Mark DeRosa, if he could come at the right price.

With an infield of Howard, Polanco, Rollins, and DeRosa, on days when Utley is off, could be almost as solid as Howard, Utley, Rollins, and Polanco.

Either way, the Hot Stove has started in earnest.

Bring it on!

 

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Placido Polanco Philly-Bound: What It Does For Phils (and Everyone Else)

It has been nearly half a decade since Placido Polanco donned the red Philadelphia Phillies pinstripes, but he will soon do it again, according to an

While a fairly innocuous signing in and of itself, this move could have major implications in a number of disparate ways. Polanco will reportedly receive roughly $18 million over three years, with a fourth-year option, and will move to third base for Philadelphia after winning two Gold Gloves in the last three seasons at second base.

The signing marks the end of the Phillies’ pursuits (if indeed they had ever begun) of free-agent third basemen Mark DeRosa and Chone Figgins. For DeRosa, Philadelphia had seemed the most apparent destination, and it would now seem that he will return to the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played in the second half of 2009. Figgins, meanwhile, has no dearth of suitors, and should find the market for his services relatively unaffected by Polanco’s pact with Philadelphia.

Unaffected, that is, except insofar as this deal says something surprising about the free-agent market this off-season. If the reported terms are accurate, Polanco’s deal (which he would sign at age 34, and which could carry him nearly to his fortieth birthday) signifies a turnaround from the highly conservative spending patterns of last winter, because it exceeds what this reporter (or most others who watched Polanco have his worst offensive season since 2005, and second-worst ever, in 2009) thought Polanco would have any chance to command on the open market.

Given that kind of inflation, DeRosa, Figgins and other mid-level free agents can demand more than they otherwise might. Second basemen benefit especially, because the market at that position got a notch less deep when Polanco signed on as a third baseman instead.

It is true that Polanco, who rarely strikes out, is a .303 career hitter with doubles power, and his two Gold Gloves no doubt led the Phillies to value him highly as a potential third baseman, especially because he has experience at the position. Still, for a player who appears to be trending predictably downward at age 35, the price they paid for Polanco is somewhat steep.

One more inexplicable assertion made in the mlb.com story should raise alarms in the minds of Phillies fans. According to the article, Polanco “could bat between lead-off hitter Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley at the top of the Phillies lineup.” Firstly, this is a dangerous statement, because it makes clear the Phils’ intent to keep Rollins (and his .296 OBP last season) in the top slot in their order.

Just as important, however, it clearly implies that Philadelphia intends to move center fielder Shane Victorino down in the order. Victorino, who posted a .358 OBP and slugged .445 least year, is a much better fit in the lead-off spot than in Rollins. Rollins now profiles more like a sixth or seventh hitter than a lead-off man, and if the Phillies don’t make that adjustment, they will not get to reap the benefits of one of the most talented offenses in recent memory.

Ultimately, the move still makes sense for Philadelphia, at least until they decide where to bat each player in their lineup. Polanco is a steady, solid second hitter with a well-established track record of offensive and defensive success. It does, however, tell us all some things about the way this winter will unfold, things we might not have expected to be true.

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Placido Polanco Signs with the Philadelphia Phillies

Placido Polanco is coming back to Philly.

 

After spending four and a half years in Detroit, the Phillies have reportedly signed the 34-year-old to take over as the club’s everyday third baseman.

 

The contract is believed to be a three-year, $18 million deal with a fourth-year mutual option for 2013.

 

As is customary with all deals, finalization of the contract is pending a physical.

 

Polanco spent parts of four seasons in Philadelphia and posted a very solid .297/.352/.439 line during that time while posting of the best power numbers of his career.

 

The Phillies will be moving Polanco from second base, where he has two Gold Gloves, to third base to replace the departed Pedro Feliz.

 

Polanco isn’t a stranger to the hot corner, having originally started his career as a third baseman before shifting to second base full-time during his last stint in Philadelphia.

 

He posted above average numbers at the hot corner, but has only played nine games at third since the end of 2004.

 

The addition of Polanco gives the Phillies more flexibility in the lineup as well as in the field.

 

Polanco, a career .303/.348/.414 hitter can hit anywhere in the lineup.

 

He is renowned for his plate discipline. He struck out once every 14.7 plate appearances last season, good enough for the second-best mark in all of baseball.

 

Over the past five seasons, he’s averaged just one strikeout per every 17.5 plate appearances, which is also good for second-best in the Majors.

 

He has hit primarily out of the two-hole in recent years. His penchant for clutch hits and moving runners makes him an ideal candidate to continue that role in Philadelphia.

 

Another option would be to hit him lower in the order, to allow more turn-over at the bottom of the lineup. Shane Victorino has handled the two-hole in recent years and has thrived in the role.

 

No matter where manager Charlie Manuel decides to hit him in the lineup, Polanco figures to be an exciting addition to one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball.

 

The Phillies were rumored to be interested in Mark DeRosa and Adrian Beltre as alternatives at third base, but the Phillies pursued Polanco very aggressively after it was learned that Detroit would not offer him arbitration.

 

As a Type A free agent, the Tigers could have gained a first-round draft pick and as supplemental pick for Polanco had they offered him arbitration.

 

Without the offer, Polanco instantly became more attractive as a free agent option.

 

 

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Are the Philadelphia Phillies Targeting J.J. Putz?

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Philadelphia Phillies Interested in John Smoltz

ESPN‘s Jayson Stark reports that the Phillies have showed interest in 42-year-old free agent pitcher John Smoltz as a low risk, high reward signing, similar to the role played by Pedro Martinez last season.

Smoltz isn’t the same pitcher he was five years ago, but he showed with the Cardinals that he can still be effective despite having a miserable couple of outings in Boston.

The former Atlanta Braves great appeared in eight games with the Red Sox last season, going 2-5 with a 8.32 earned run average in 40 innings before being designated for assignment on Aug. 7.

He signed with St. Louis after being released by the Sox, starting seven games for the Red Birds. He pitched relatively well upon his return to the N.L. Smoltz went 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA.

His control wasn’t an issue last year with either team as he had very impressive strikeout-to-walk numbers, striking out 33 batters while walking just nine with Boston, and 40-to-nine ratio with the Cards.

Smoltz’s trouble with the Bo Sox was that he was giving up way too many hits and home runs. In 40 innings with Boston, Smoltz gave up 59 hits and nine homers.

With Dave Duncan as his pitching coach in St. Louis, he was able to trim down on the hits and long balls. While playing for the Cardinals, Smoltz allowed 36 hits and three homers in 38 innings.

Smoltzy will be turning 43 in May, so he’s on the downside of his career, however the age doesn’t show that he still can’t get batters out. Jamie Moyer is 46 years old, and is still getting it done.

When pitchers get past a certain age in their careers, they have to learn how to use their stuff and trust what they still have. It’s all about location, and utilizing your off-speed stuff rather than your heaters.

At this point in his career, he has to throw his sliders and breaking balls more often rather than falling back on his heater because it’s not that devastating fastball from years ago.

Smoltz isn’t fond of Citizens Bank Park so that could be a hurdle in negotiations with the future Hall-of-Fame pitcher, but that will not be the biggest roadblock in signing Smoltz.

There are two major things that could get in the way of snagging Smoltz. The first whether he would be willing to accept the role as a reliever, and the second is how much money will he be asking for.

In his storied career, he has been both a great starter and a great reliever. At one time, he was among the game’s best closers. Will he go back to the bullpen as a seventh or eighth-inning guy?

I think he’s better suited for the ‘pen because he doesn’t have the stuff or the health to give you five-plus innings every fifth day. And for the Phillies, he would be insurance to Brad Lidge.

He fits with the Phils as a reliever in my opinion, however he could also help the team’s depth at starting pitcher. Maybe the Phils should promise him a chance to earn a starting job like they did with Chan Ho Park?

It’s unlikely that Pedro will be back, and Moyer seems to be a huge question mark so who knows who will be the fifth starter come opening day. Depth is an issue in terms of starters.

Smoltz showed with the Cards that he can still be a serviceable starter, a guy who can give you five quality innings every fifth day. But whether he can he do it over a full season is still up in the air.

With his past history of greatness, Smoltz may think that he’s due a few million bucks even though he hasn’t done anything other than show that he could be an OK fifth starter in the last couple of years.

The Phillies are in the market for bargain-bin type pitchers for both the rotation and bullpen. Rather than overpay for quality, they’ll pay for average, which I have no problem with.

Some fans will have a problem with them looking at players like this because they aren’t “willing to throw out the big bucks.”

To those fans, didn’t they acquire a highly paid pitcher at the deadline?

Great teams are ones who aren’t afraid to take risks, like Phils did when they signed Martinez.

If the Phillies have proved anything in the last year, the best deal doesn’t always come with the highest price tag. Instead of paying the premium to get Roy Halladay, they gave up less for Cliff Lee.

So, instead of targeting John Lackey or Randy Wolf in free agency, the Phils are looking at John Smoltz-type pitchers. Guys who can be bought for low, and possibly give a high return.

Justin Duchscherer anyone?

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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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Philadelphia Phillies Add Brian Schneider

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