With two of their three starting outfielders locked up for a while, the Pittsburgh Pirates have turned their attention to making sure that they will have newcomer Gregory Polanco patrolling right field at PNC Park for many years to come. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that the Pirates have offered the fast-rising rookie sensation a ten-year, $75 million contract that would keep Polanco in Pittsburgh through 2024. This contract would ensure that Polanco, 22, remain a Pirate through age 33 — right through his prime years.
Polanco, though, sees a hole in the contract that he wants filled in. According to Heyman, the contract includes seven guaranteed years and three club option years at the end. Heyman described the potential deal buster in his report. Heyman writes,
“…Polanco might be concerned to sign up for a deal that includes team options eight, nine and 10 years down the road that may be worth only a fraction of his value by then.“
While most of us cannot imagine turning down $75 million, in today’s baseball terms, that is actually a modest salary for ten years. Polanco, though, should give it some serious consideration. At $7.5 million per year for seven guaranteed years, he would make $52.5 millon. That is very similar to the six-year, $51.5-million contract that center fielder Andrew McCutchen is currently playing out. McCutchen is in Year 3 of that deal, and he is the franchise player right now. He will end that contract — assuming the Pirates exercise the team option of $14.7 million in 2018 — at age 31. Polanco will turn 30 right at the end of Year 7 in 2021.
In addition, left fielder Starling Marte will make $50.5 million between 2015 and 2021 when his contract expires — assuming the two option years. Marte has established himself as one of the best outfielders in the game today. At their young ages, both McCutchen and Marte have secured money, and when they become free agents after 2018 and 2021, respectively, (or possibly 2020 for Marte), they will both have enough strong years left to cash in even bigger contracts.
Polanco falls right into that same category. No matter how well (All-Star caliber) he has played so far, though, he is a rookie with only three weeks of Major League service. Yes, he projects to become a perennial All-Star like McCutchen, but he has not played even a full month yet.
The 10-year, $75-million offer is very good for both sides. It keeps Polanco, McCutchen, and Marte together in the same outfield for at least four more years, possibly longer if McCutchen re-signs, without destroying the bank. It gives Polanco immediate financial security. It also leaves open the potential for a blockbuster contract down the road or the possibility of a huge extension even before it ends.
Pirates fans already love Gregory Polanco. They will love him even more if he accepts this offer — or at least one close to it that benefits both sides.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Janes, Baseball America