The Pirates have shut down Gregory Polanco’s rehab assignment due to continued shoulder discomfort, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters Wednesday (Twitter links via Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
It doesn’t sound as if the club is concerned about any potential structural damage in Polanco’s surgically repaired shoulder, as Tomczyk called the joint both “strong” and “stable” in making today’s announcement. “We just need to figure out the details of what’s causing the soreness and the discomfort in the back of the shoulder,” he added.
Polanco, 27, has been sidelined since late June due to inflammation in a left shoulder that required season-ending surgery in 2018. He beat the initially projected recovery timeline associated with that procedure by more than a month when he was reinstated from the injured list on April 22, but Polanco hasn’t been himself even when healthy in 2019. Through his first 167 trips to the plate, he’s batted just .242/.301/.425 — a significant departure from last year’s .254/.340/.499 output.
Potential complications in Polanco’s recovery are of particular note given the team’s wealth of outfielders. It’s been reported that Pittsburgh preferred to trade Corey Dickerson due to a surplus that existed with Dickerson, Polanco, Starling Marte, rookie Bryan Reynolds and resurgent veteran Melky Cabrera. Whether the club would be so willing to move Dickerson now that there are renewed questions about Polanco’s health will likely depend on the extent to which the ongoing shoulder troubles are expected to hinder Polanco. For the time being, there’s no timeline available on Polanco’s return to the lineup. He’s headed back to Pittsburgh, where he’ll presumably undergo further testing.
I really don’t think Pirate fans will see the Polanco we ever envisioned he’d be. He is either injured or a complete enigma.
Sadly I’m leaning towards agreeing with you. When he puts it all together he’s a great asset, but he can’t seem to do that consistently enough.
Yes and yes.
Polanco is Marte part deux.
Much talent but small baseball instinct.
Too many mistakes.
This will be a lost year for Gregory,but they should trade him unless he can come back and play well next year.
All I think of when I hear Polanco’s name is that time he tripped playing RF in Wrigley, fell like a sack of potatoes, cost the Pirates the game. It was an incredible sight.
I remember that play and felt really bad for him.
But I also realized that I had not seen anything that bad since Little League.
Any chance the Pirates would look to move Marte by the deadline
My honest guess is that there’s almost no chance. They still see themselves as contending for a playoff spot, and even if they do sell off assets it would be more likely a pending free agent like Corey Dickerson. Marte also still plays a very good CF and although Bryan Reynolds does play CF he’s probably better suited to play a corner spot.
very slim. Unless someone comes in with something like 3 top 100 prospects, one of which is an ‘elite’ type. the pirates just hang up. If someone happens to do that (they won’t) then you have a conversation at the least.
You have to be kidding. Marte is still needed, but it wouldn’t take that kind of a return.
They would have to have find a replacement, which would be the real issue. But nobody’s giving up elite talent for his OBP and future salary.
For his level of production, Marte’s salary is very reasonable.
It’s not about his salary being reasonable for his production, it’s about Pittsburgh’s willingness to pay it.
In the past he would. Back in 2009, He traded Nate McClouth to the Braves for Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke while the team still was hovering at .500.
Unfortunately, now the band wagoners waiting for Steelers football have been pushing the team to not rebuild. This pressure forced him to make the infamous Chris Archer trade last season because not supporting the team would have pissed them off.
IMO give melky or dickerson a 1-2 year extension to give time for Cal and/or Travis to work through the system. HOpe polanco comes back and puts up respectable numbers and then try to trade him in the off season. His ‘cheapish’ control should be appealing enough for some non-elite talent… or even an arm to stablize the rotation/pen in ’20.
I like Dickerson, he can’t slide worth a crap, but I agree.
lol yeah that one a couple days ago… had soda shooting out my nose.. .. man that was funny.. sucks for him.. but funny.
He also had a horrible time in the rain fielding dropping balls not timing jumps, etc… hasn’t looked like the gold glover we had last year for sure.
Polanco has gone from a highly anticipated rookie to a baby if he has a hang nail. Can’t, or won’t help his own cause to stay healthy.
We would’nt get much for either Melky or Corey, so we might as well keep them.
They have a surplus of outfielders so someone won’t be happy and demand playing time. I’d say Dickerson gets moved to a contender for a potential closer or mid level prospect
Shut Polanco down until next year, deal Dickerson to allow Reynolds an everyday spot in LF, and it’ll also open up a spot for Will Craig to play RF.
That surplus of outfielders will disappear really fast in the offseason. Dickerson struggles with LHP and hasn’t flashed any power this season, so it’s easy to see him getting moved if there’s a taker. Both his contract and Cabrera’s are up at the end of the season.
Pollanco’s going to have a rough journey back after missing so much time and he’s still owed 23.2 million (2020 and 2021 salaries + buyout).
Tough decisions for Pittsburgh ahead. If they still intend to contend, they’ll have to spend, or get really creative.
When are people going to realize how awful these labrum injuries are? Doesn’t matter the position or whether it’s throwing shoulder or otherwise….they are all possible career-Enders. Just brutal injuries.
Trade whoever you can to get back young catchers and pitching prospects. You could always sign Dickerson or Cabrera back if they are really needed. Would be happy to trade Marte and move Reynolds to center. Never will win with Marte playing for us.
The Pirates are 1-9 without Marte, FYI.