Pirates part ways with longtime outfielder Gregory Polanco

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gregory Polanco hasn't been part of the Pittsburgh Pirates' long-term plans for a while.

Now, he's no longer a part of their present, either.

The Pirates released the struggling 29-year-old right fielder on Saturday, cutting ties with the last remaining player from the group that helped guide the franchise to three straight postseason berths from 2013-15.

Those days are long gone. Pittsburgh is less than two years into a top-to-bottom overhaul and is all but assured of finishing dead last in the NL Central for a third straight year.

Polanco's age, declining production and onerous contract — his $11.6 million salary this season accounted for more than 20% of the team's entire 2021 payroll — made him an ill fit for what the Pirates are trying to do. The team placed him on waivers last week and when no one picked up his remaining salary, they opted to let him go instead.

Polanco hit just .208 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs this season for Pittsburgh and had recently become a target for frustrated fans. He was booed relentlessly after a late error contributed to a loss to Arizona on Wednesday night.

Still, that didn't mean the decision was easy. Polanco's infectious smile and unbridled enthusiasm for the game made him popular inside a young and largely anonymous clubhouse. Manager Derek Shelton called the meeting he had with Polanco on Saturday to inform him of the decision was the most challenging he's had since taking over in November 2019.

“To Gregory’s credit, the way he handled it was so professional and so understanding,” Shelton said. “He understands what we’re doing as an organization, how we’re moving forward. I had a ton of respect for him (before and) I have even more respect for him now, for just the way he handled himself because it was not...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Pirates-part-ways-with-longtime-outfielder-16418843.php