DECEMBER 15, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Gregory Polanco reportedly 'very close' to playing in Japan Looking to turn his career around, Gregory Polanco appears to be on his way to Japan.
Pirates claim outfielder Greg Allen off waivers from Yankees
The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed outfielder Greg Allen off waivers from the New York YankeesNOVEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pirates see signs of progress amid another dismal finish
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton says the team has made progress even while finishing last in the NL Central for a third straight seasonOCTOBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gregory Polanco opens up about Pirates career, road back to majors Gregory Polanco chatted with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday about his Pirates career and working his way back to the majors.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Akin wins consecutive starts, leads Orioles past Jays 4-2
Keegan Akin allowed one run through five innings and won consecutive starts for the first time, Ramón Urías hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning and the Baltimore Orioles beat...SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gregory Polanco signs minor-league deal with Toronto Blue Jays, team announces CHICAGO — For the first time since 2009, when he signed with the Pirates as a 17-year-old, Gregory Polanco is in another MLB organization. T...
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Joins Toronto on MiLB deal Polanco signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Impact Polanco was let go by the Pirates over the weekend and didn't take long to latch on with a new team. The 29-year-old struggled in 107 games this season, hitting .208/.283/.354 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, 38 runs and 14 stolen bases, and he's failed to provide much production since posting an .839 OPS with 23 homers and 81 RBI in 2018. The Blue Jays have plenty of outfield depth, so Polanco is unlikely to see much in terms of big-league opportunities -- if he even makes it to the majors -- barring multiple injuries among the likes of Teoscar Hernandez, George Springer, Corey Dickerson, Randal Grichuk and Lourdes Gurriel.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Reduced expansion for MLB with fewer September call-ups
MLB clubhouses and dugouts are no longer as crowded during the final weeks of the regular seasonAUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mets' Báez bolts out of doghouse with apology, winning run
Javier Báez bolted home for the winning run in the ninth inning of New York’s 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins hours after he and Francisco Lindor apologized for taking a dig at booi...AUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Perez on a home run tear for rebuilding Royals
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez has been on an extended tear since the All-Star breakAUGUST 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ben Cherington explains decision to part ways with Gregory Polanco The Pirates decided they wanted to give other players some time in right field and opportunities in the lineup.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
What will the Pirates do next in right field after releasing Gregory Polanco? The rest of this season will be sort of an open audition in right field as management sorts out the roster for 2022 and beyond.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
LEADING OFF: Yankees seek new winning streak vs A's
A day after ending their longest winning streak in nearly 60 years, the Yankees try to get back in the win column against OaklandAUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Yankees seek new winning streak vs A's
A day after ending their longest winning streak in nearly 60 years, the Yankees try to get back in the win column against OaklandAUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pirates part ways with longtime outfielder Gregory Polanco
Gregory Polanco's stay in Pittsburgh is overAUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Released, not DFA'd The Pirates released Polanco on Saturday, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact The team had initially announced a DFA of the eight-year veteran, but he was in fact released and has become a free agent. Polanco's .208/.283/.354 slash line in 2021 casts doubt on his ability to sign with another team before the season ends.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Gregory Polanco designated for assignment, recall Cole Tucker The Pirates have parted ways with Gregory Polanco. Last Sunday, it leaked that the Pirates had placed him on outright waivers, meaning that...
AUGUST 28, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
DFA'd Saturday The Pirates designated Polanco for assignment Saturday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Impact This likely marks the end of Polanco's eight-year career with the Pirates, as he already went unclaimed when placed on outright waivers Sunday. Cole Tucker was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday in a corresponding move.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
On bench Friday Polanco will sit Friday against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Impact Polanco remains with the team after passing through waivers earlier in the week and should still see plenty of starts down the stretch. He'll sit against lefty J.A. Happ on Friday, his second time out of the lineup in four days. Yoshi Tsutsugo (who bats left-handed, just like Polanco) will be the right fielder in his absence.
AUGUST 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Three-hit day Polanco went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in a win Thursday over St. Louis.
Impact After clearing waivers Tuesday, Polanco was in the lineup for the second consecutive day collecting three hits for the second time this season. Despite a .639 OPS for the year, Polanco has slashed .381/.381/.571 across his previous six games.
AUGUST 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Polanco hears cheers amid 8-run rally, Bucs beat Cards 11-7 Gregory Polanco turned boos into cheers with the decisive two-run double during an eight-run seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates ralli...
AUGUST 27, 2021 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Polanco hears cheers amid 8-run rally, Bucs beat Cards 11-7
Gregory Polanco turned boos into cheers with the decisive two-run double during an eight-run seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for an 11-7 victory over the St. Loui...AUGUST 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
'I'm a human being, too': Gregory Polanco pushes back against fan criticism Gregory Polanco has certainly struggled this season, but the Pirates right fielder isn’t happy with how much he’s been criticized.
AUGUST 26, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Clears waivers, remains active Polanco cleared outright waivers Tuesday and remains a member of the Pirates' active roster, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. He'll be available off the bench for Tuesday's co...
Impact As anticipated, none of MLB's other 29 teams were willing to assume the money left on Polanco's $11 million contract for 2021, so he'll remain with the Pirates. Though Polanco has served as a mainstay in right field all season, it's unclear if he'll continue to receive regular starts over the final five weeks of the campaign. The 29-year-old has put together a .183/.256/.334 slash line (58 wRC+) in 545 plate appearances since the start of the 2020 season, making it highly likely that the Pirates will decline his $12.5 million team option and buy him out for $3 million this winter. With that in mind, the Pirates could be inclined to evaluate other corner outfielders who might have a more realistic shot at remaining with the team in 2022.
AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ron Cook: Gregory Polanco's slide into obscurity has been tough to watch Bust isn’t the right word to describe Gregory Polanco. That is a little too strong. Disappointment is a much better word.
AUGUST 24, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
