Phillies Get Their Man; NL Champs Sign Placido Polanco

The reigning National League champions are attacking this off season much in the same way they did last year after they become World Series champs.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed Placido Polanco to a reported 3-year deal worth $18 million dollars.

The Phillies announced Placido Polanco has signed a three-year, $18 million contract. The contract also includes a fourth-year mutual option for 2013.

Polanco is expected to meet with reporters later today.

It looks like the Phillies have become the NL version of the Yankees who always seem to get any player they target.

Last season their goal was to upgrade from Pat Burrell and they went all out for Raul Ibanez and got their man who eventually became the team’s MVP for the first half of the season.

When they made the decision to get a top tier pitcher at the trade deadline, they targeted Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Lee went on to become the most dominant pitcher in the NL for the last two months of the season.

Polanco’s new deal averages out to $6 million dollars annually which is what the Mets pay Luis Castillo. However, the Phillies now added a dynamic top of the order hitter who will mot likely bat second in the leagues best offensive lineup.

No word if the Mets were even interested in Polanco, but most likely they won’t do anything until they rid themselves of Castillo first. So far though, interest in Castillo has been tepid at best, and most likely he’ll be the Mets Opening Day second baseman.