Gregory Polanco is staying with the Pirates, at least for now.
Per a source, the right fielder has cleared the outright waivers process and remains part of the Pirates’ active roster.
After being placed on outright waivers Sunday, each team was given an opportunity to claim him and the remainder of his contract, approximately $2.4 million in remaining salary and a $3 million buyout on a 2022 club option.
Part of the reason for the move was to give Polanco a chance to play for a contender, but no team put in a claim for him.
Since outright waivers are independent of any other transaction, Polanco did not have to be designated for assignment or placed on release waivers.
That buyout of the 2022 club option should be the final payment on a five-year, $35 million extension Polanco signed during the 2016 season. Assuming the Pirates exercise it, that would make Polanco a free agent for the first time in his career.
Polanco is not in the starting lineup for the Pirates’ game against the Diamondbacks. He started in right field Monday, where he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Polanco is the longest tenured Pirates player, and is the last link from the 2014 and 2015 playoff teams. He signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2009.
He has struggled mightily the last three seasons following left shoulder surgery at the end of the 2018 season. Over the last three years, he has posted OPS marks of .726 in 2019, .539 in 2020 and .613 this season.
With outfielder Anthony Alford activated off the injured list Monday and Ben Gamel being one of the team’s best hitters this season, it’s not known if Polanco will continue to be the Pirates’ primary right fielder for the final six weeks of the season.
On the season, Polanco is hitting .197 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and -1.6 rWAR over 371 plate appearances.
