The last member of the successful 2013-2015 Pittsburgh Pirates has been placed on outright waivers.
Gregory Polanco, the Pirates highest paid player was placed on waivers for a couple reasons, according to Fan Pirates insider Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette.
If a team does not claim Polanco, something that Mackey and many other are speculating, he will return to the active roster.
While another team may be enticed to have Polanco as a fourth outfielder (with his power potential) there are two big things in the way: his $2.4 million salary remaining this season and his .169 batting average.
Another problem Polanco has is his inability to make throws from right field.
In 102 games for Pittsburgh, Polanco has 64 hits, nine doubles, two triples, 11 homeruns and 34 RBI with an on-base percentage of .278 and 98 strikeouts.
The Pirates kept Polanco in the lineup for a couple reasons this season, there was hope he would pick up momentum and that a contending team would be willing to make a trade for him.
The other reason, his $11 million salary and eclipses any other player on the roster by a wide margin.
First baseman Colin Morgan is the next highest paid player on the team making $2.8 million.
Now, with the Pirates focusing on younger talent, the 29-year-old takes up a spot that could be used to take a look at new talent.
Polanco signed a five-year $35 million extension back in 2016 and had his best season that year, hitting .258 with 136 hits, 34 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs and 86 RBI.
But injuries derailed his production. In 2017, Polanco went on the injured list several times with a left hamstring injury. Early in the 2018 season, Polanco dislocated his left shoulder, an injury that would plague him for the follow him and put him on the self a few time for the next two seasons.
That injury severely affected his ability to make throws from right field and has become one of the worst throwing outfielders in the league.
The Pirates have an option to keep Polanco for $12.5 million in 2022 or buy out his deal for $3 million, something that is likely to happen if another team does not pick him up this season.