Phillies, Polanco agree to deal
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Phillies, Polanco agree to deal
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATED: The Phillies have confirmed the 3-year, $18 million deal with a mutual option for a fourth year.
“We’re very happy to have Placido back in a Phillies uniform,” Ruben Amaro Jr said in a statement. “He’s a professional hitter who will enhance our lineup. As a Gold Glove infielder, we’re very confident that he will make a smooth transition back to third base. Polly also gives us some added versatility at second base if and when Chase needs a rest.”
Earlier: The Phillies have agreed to a deal with veteran infielder Placido Polanco to replace Pedro Feliz at third base, several sources confirmed today. The deal is expected to be announced once Polanco passes a physical, a formality for the durable former Detroit Tiger.
Polanco arrived in Philadelphia earlier today after the Phillies and his agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, hammered out the final details of the deal.
There's little doubt that the signing of Polanco represents a good value on the offensive side of the plate in the short-term. Had the Phillies exercised Feliz's option, they would have paid the veteran third baseman $5.5 million this season, which is $500,000 less than they will reportedly pay Polanco (although the Phillies did pay Feliz a $500,000 buy-out). In two years in Philadelphia, Feliz hits .259 with a .306 on base percentage and a .393 slugging percentage for a .699 OPS. Curiously, the power that he had displayed in hitting at least 20 home runs in each of the previous four seasons for the Giants disappeared despite cozier home confines in Citizens Bank Park. Feliz managed just 26 home runs in 2008-09, an average of one per every 38.7 at-bats, well below the rate (1/26.1) at which he hit in San Fran.
During that same time frame, Polanco bested Feliz in virtually every offensive category, hitting .295 with a .340 on base percentage, .407 slugging percentage, .747 OPS, 18 home runs, 130 RBI, and 172 runs scored while converting 14-of-17 stolen base attempts.
But the Phillies' decision to give Polanco a three-year deal may raise some eyebrows. The versatile veteran will be 34 on Opening Day, and his batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage have decreased over the last three seasons, from .341/.388/.458 in 2007 to .285/.331/.396 in 2009. Plus, while Polanco won a Gold Glove at second base, he has not played third base since leaving the Phillies midway through the 2005 seasons.
The Phillies gave 46-year-old Jamie Moyer a two-year contract prior to last season. After a subpar 2009 in which he lost his spot in the rotation before undergoing season-ending surgery, the Phillies are now comitted to him at $8 million for next season. They also cut Geoff Jenkins prior to last season, despite owing him $6.5 million on a two-year deal he signed prior to the 2008 seasons. Their decision to give veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez a three-year contract last year also raised some eyebrows.
Like Polanco for a year. Would love a deal for Halliday!!— ginzo- Help my favorite team doesn't understand that not striking out is basically worthless! He doesn't walk either! All it means is he swings a lot and makes contact a lot, which means no power and no patience. Seriously whatever you gain with the bat, you lose with the glove. Someone show the Phillies a peak production curve. Other than the Cliff Lee trade Ruben has done a pretty terrible job. Gosh I'm rambling in anger now.— Either/Or
- Welcome back Placido - great contact hitter, move the runners over, play hard and make our lineup that much better— golfblue
- This is a "so-so" signing. Give me Figgins or Beltre, and I would have felt much more confident going into 2010. Does this put them over the top? No.— farside37
- Just in case you don't have a reporter to English translation dictionary, when a beat reporter writes that a player's power hitting production "curiously" dropped, what he is really saying is that he believes the player previously was using performance enhancing drugs and his production dropped as soon as drug testing came in.— wru
Comment removed.- We replaced an awesome 3B with a guy we don't even know can field the position. Plus he's older and costs the same amount of money. This is a gamble in my opinion. Hope Dobbs has a good spring.— MattPSU
- Amaro would seem to be getting a bit cocky with this deal. Polanco will be 37 at the end of it. Who says he'll be a productive 37 year old? Ibanez has worked out thus far, but.....— Chugwater
- "Polly"? Seriously?— JLB
- Welcome back Placido. Thank you for everything Pedro. Let's roll... Some were expecting a flashier signing. I liked Figgins, Tejada, or dealing for Mike Lowell. But remember Figgins and Tejada are type-A F/A's. If Polanco is a type-B, Phils are upgrading at 3B offensively, without having to give up much (or anything). That's important for the future. So Phils got Placido age 34 thru 36, w/ and option for another. I like it. Someone wrote a couple weeks ago "fans should expect few fireworks (not "a few"). So far, with back-up catcher, utility, and 3B, Ruben is three-for-three. What else you got coming Dr. Amaro? (just don't say John Smoltz...)
Polanco hasn't played 3B since 2005 but has a career 3B (322 games) fielding % of .982 (.993 at 2B) 18 points better than Feliz's .964. And a versatile, contact hitter. Good signing!- WRU - For the record, I was not implying anything about PEDs when I said "curiously." Only that he moved from a pitcher's park to a hitter's park, yet saw his home run total drop.
- Comment removed.
- My first choices were Tejada or Figgins because they are better hitters and defenders, but Polanco is not bad. I guess the Phils are def. set on keeping the payroll down somewhat and hopefully using some of that money to upgrade the bullpen/pitching dept.— Jay25
- I Like it. It gives them a lot of versatility in the batting order.— Bill S
