In their quest to be all like, “hey, you’ve heard of this guy, right?” the Marlins have signed third baseman Placido Polanco to a one-year deal worth a reported $2.75 million. It doesn’t seem like that long ago when Polanco was a heralded defender and batting average golden boy, but that ship sailed long ago. The player the Marlins are getting is a 37-year-old version of that guy you used to know, and he isn’t likely to contribute much to what will surely be a historically terrible Marlins team. Then again, no one on the roster not named Giancarlo Stanton is all that likely to do anything that won’t be excruciating to watch.

Polanco still held up in 2012 as an above average defender according to UZR, a metric that has always adored him. That’s about the only positive thing I can think to say, as Polanco hit .257/.302/.327 in 328 PA for the Phillies, and he’s barely sustained a .300 wOBA at the plate over the last two seasons. It really looks like there isn’t a single sign of life left to be found in PP’s bat (pee pee!), and I can’t imagine retirement is too far around the corner.

I’m not entirely sure the point of this move from the Marlins’ standpoint. They need to get younger and rebuild after sending most of their roster to Canada, and Polanco does nothing but fill space and presumably bump the payroll up from the $40.73 it stood at prior to this contract. The move makes more sense from Polanco’s point of view, as it means there is still someone out there who is cool with him playing baseball.

Tagged: Miami Marlins, MLB free agent signings, MLB hot stove, MLB transactions, Placido Polanco