Placido Polanco has one season remaining on his three-year, $18 million contract, but the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to move their starting third baseman, according to NBC’s Hardball Talk.
The Phillies are attempting to bring in Aramis Ramirez, who just completed a five-year, $73 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. Ramirez hit .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs last season, finishing with a .871 OPS that was virtually 200 points higher than that of the light-hitting Polanco (.674).
Ramirez certainly can’t field his position as well as Polanco – no one really can – but he would provide an instant upgrade as a right-handed power bat in a lineup that is lacking offensively. Ramirez initially had a $16 million mutual option for the 2012 season. The Cubs picked up their part, but Ramirez declined.
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