Major League Baseball

Polanco agrees to 3-year, $18M deal with Phils

Published Dec. 3, 2009 6:27 p.m. ET

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The Phillies have agreed to terms on a three-year, $18 million contract with infielder Placido Polanco, the team announced Thursday.

News and notes

The deal includes a $5.5 million mutual option with a $1 million buyout for 2013.

Polanco will return to Philadelphia, where he played from 2002 through 2005, to replace Pedro Feliz as the starting third baseman. The agreement comes one day after the division rival Braves signed Billy Wagner to be their closer, as both teams appear to be fortifying their rosters for what could be an intriguing National League East race.

The deal became official Thursday after Polanco passed a physical.

Polanco, 33, hasn't played third base in the majors since 2005 and last spent the majority of a season there in 2002.

Polanco had been Detroit's everyday second baseman since arriving in a midseason trade with the Phillies in 2005. He won two Gold Gloves for his fielding there, including one this year, making his new position ironic if not unexpected.

He had a career-high 72 RBIs for the Tigers this year to go along with 10 home runs and a .285 batting average. The Tigers have long valued his contributions on both sides of the ball — manager Jim Leyland is a great admirer of his — but they seem intent on installing rookie Scott Sizemore as their starting second baseman in 2010.

Detroit has already committed roughly $100 million for next season, a good portion of it to players who haven't performed well recently. Club officials are trying to save money where possible, a major reason why they didn't offer salary arbitration to Polanco prior to Tuesday's deadline.

Polanco is a career .296 hitter in the postseason and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 American League Championship Series — credentials that surely impressed the back-to-back National League champion Phillies.

The Phillies had strongly considered three free agents for their third-base opening — Polanco, Mark DeRosa and Miguel Tejada.

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