TODAY: Polanco is expected back with the Pirates within a few days, manager Derek Shelton told reporters (including Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).
MAY 8: The Pirates placed Gregory Polanco on the COVID-related injury list on Tuesday, without any specific details (though none are required in COVID situations) given about why Polanco would be missing time. However, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Polanco’s placement was due to a violation of healthy and safety protocols. Polanco “utilized a training service that was outside of the Pirates’ bubble,” according to Mackey’s sources.
It isn’t yet known how long Polanco will be away from the team, or whether or not he’ll face league-mandated punishment for breaking protocol. According to the 2021 Operations Manual, “Any Covered Individuals who are found to have violated the Code of Conduct are subject to potential discipline, including suspension or forfeiture of salary for days spent away from the Club while in mandatory self-isolation or quarantine resulting from the violation.”
In short, a suspension would cost Polanco some game checks (he is earning $11MM this season, as Pittsburgh’s highest-paid player) and it isn’t out of the question that he could also lose some money for the time he has currently missed on the COVID-IL. It remains to be seen how the Pirates, the league, and possibly the MLBPA could approach this situation due to the lack of known information about the exact circumstances of Polanco’s violation.
Polanco tested positive for COVID-19 last July, costing him some time during the Pirates’ Summer Camp and delaying the start of his 2020 season by a few games. Since undergoing shoulder surgery in September 2018, Polanco has hit .197/.263/.369 over 431 plate appearances, missing significant time in 2019 dealing with more shoulder problems. Beyond the shoulder injury and the positive COVID test, Polanco also suffered a wrist fracture in December.
Wow. How completely ridiculous.
Correct, give me a break
so much potential falling apart for this guy. hopefully he gets traded and figures it out
He’s almost 30. And who is going to trade for a below average hitter woth poor defense, no arm and an $12 mil contract?
Segue to Ozuna would be nice if shots are being fired. lol
mutual salary swap could be in the picture two players doing poorly hoping for a comeback change of scenery..
who those two would be…
Shame about polanco before surgery his defense was decent and his bat wasn’t the worst, mostly living up to his contract.
Don’t these violations and restrictions seem like a way of controlling players?
If Polanco had a .350/.425/.475 line, I don’t think they would be this sensitive.
Maybe I’m wrong though.
It is a way of controlling players, to make sure they’re not doing stuff they shouldn’t be doing. Like going to a gym outside the bubble.
So yes, controlling the players.
Anybody who wants a vaccine can get one at this point. Bubbles should be done away with, as should testing. Basically if you get covid from here on out and you have chosen to not be vaccinated, it’s your own fault.
That’s the end game, but we’re not quite there yet – hence the MLB rule that only 85% vaxxed teams get to return to something like normal operations.
I’m aghast at how the Pirates haven’t yet achieved that status, and presume Polanco hasn’t yet been inoculated despite missing time last season due to the COVID protocol.
If Polanco had that type of batting line he wouldn’t be looking for outside help to get his game on track. That’s the crazy part about this whole situation, he was actively trying to find ways to be better at his job and it’s going to cost him paychecks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Covid safety and protocols but the league and teams are still letting anybody off the street into ballparks who could potentially interact with players pregame or after games in order to get their share of ticket and concession sales too but players gotta be cloistered like nuns outside the ballpark.
I would assume the safety protocols for players are extended to pregame and postgame interactions.
Also Polanco knew the protocols and I’m sure his agent did. It’s not a “why punish a guy for trying to get better” moment. It’s a learn to be responsible for your livelihood and read what is given to you or at least listen when it’s explained.
If pregame/post-game protocols were the same then I wouldn’t have seen a heartwarming moment between Freddie Freeman and a teenage Philly fan about a month ago about a homerun ball the day before. Not at all saying that Polanco shouldn’t have known or checked with his agent beforehand but if he gets fined, suspended or loses paychecks I’d be pissed and consider litigation against MLB if I were him.
Why fine or suspend players for Covid breaches in bench clearing instances like the Amir Garrett/Java Baez situation a couple days ago then? They were all within MLB Covid protocol/bubble in the first place.
‘It’s a learn to be responsible for your livelihood and read what is given to you or at least listen when it’s explained.’
If he’s getting outside help he is thinking about his livelihood. If he doesn’t improve quickly this could be the last MLB deal he sees in some time or ever again.
I agree.
He was busted for working out with unapproved people.
Seems like overkill and a lack of common sense to punish players for that.
Agreed it’s overkill, but when his training appointment could be traced back to a covid outbreak, I think overkill penalties are needed. If a slap on the wrist was given with each violation, then many more players would take a few liberties here and there.
“Seems like overkill and a lack of common sense to punish players for that.”
The only one lacking common sense is Gregory Polanco
This comment will go under appreciated, but this guy gets it folks
There’s no way to prove someone going to a place led to them contracting a virus. One could suspect, but it certainly cannot be proven.
Controlling them so we can have a full season and avoid 7 straight double headers like many teams last year? Yeah seems like a valid “control”
Scheduling is way harder this year than last year to make up a large chunk of games. A huge multi team breakout would be a nightmare with the limited off days+significantly more travel
Why give them any personal life?
Just make them robots that play baseball 24/7.
Sports fans are entitled.
They think they own athletes
Crypt, you made a comment yet refused to answer this question
“ These guys all have tons of limitations in their contracts to prevent them from getting hurt off the field. There’s a limitation this year to protect their teammates and the fan’s revenue. What’s the difference?”
I’m not saying they should forever be banned from outside trainers. Not at all. But when he has to go back the next night and share a hotel room with one of his teammates, you don’t think he adds any risk to his teammate by working out at an unregulated gym?
It’s simple. Any activity that puts them in a position to be exposed to people without a mask threatens millions in game revenues. If mlb has a breakout that then spreads to fans… phew that’s nightmare #1 for them right now. Probably impacts every team at that point. Im sure there’s a process to get a new trainer approved, these guys all have someone they specifically work with, but clearly Polanco didn’t oblige
I don’t own players. But players are assets to mlb teams. While under contract that team essentially owns that player. Not sure how you could disagree with that. Every couple years someone gets in trouble for violating a clause in their contract. This is the exact same. He violated a covid clause
Restrictions are, in fact, a way of controlling people.
Kinda their point.
Aww. The people being paid millions of dollars have basic things they have to do in a pandemic in order to allow fans to come back to the game and money to start flowing once again?
At some point “control” isn’t a bad thing.
Gregory Polanco makes 12M this year. He REALLY needed that planet fitness session?
These guys all have tons of limitations in their contracts to prevent them from getting hurt off the field. There’s a limitation this year to protect their teammates and the fan’s revenue. What’s the difference?
So got suspended for going to the gym. Ouch.
I heard it was a Planet Fitness. That deserves a suspension at least.
Pirates penny pinching
You got that right.
Anyway they can get it back
would be league mandated loss of salary.. not really the teams decision.. Either way the team likely has a but load of insurance on him. the savings wouldnt’ be huge i wouldn’t think
If I was making that much money and playing that poorly, I’d be following rules and not risking drawing undue attention on myself.
Yep. Kinda reminds you of the guys who are carrying 10 lbs. of heroin in their trunk, and they run a red light……
At least the guys with the heroin got caught having a good time.
Polanco got caught while playing for the Pirates.
(I joke yinzers)
Why worry about traffic laws when you’re pushing a couple thousand dollars of heroin a day? Nowhere close to the same scenario
…because running red lights draws attention to you, which is more likely to get you pulled over…
Just like Polanco going to the gym against protocols. Yay metaphors!
Wow! I was really pulling for this guy. Now I even believe its time. Moran is out now! Frazier is bad. Moves have to be coming. We need power. 1st RF somewhere please!!!!!
For a second I was going to refute your opinion about Frazier. Then I remembered there was another Frazier besides Adam……….
Ya the old 1 for 30 !? Really? Craig maybe?
The Pirates should begin the AAA revolving door to throw whoever up against the wall and see who sticks. They….. can’t……hit.
They might be waiting to get the guys in AAA some games under their belts before they start bringing some of them up.
I’m hoping for Trey Stokes to be called up so the team isn’t in a position to use infielders in the outfield and move Evans to first until Moran comes back. For those non Pirates fans, yes this is the state of our team right now where some (at least one) fan(s) are hoping a guy who has never really been given at shot in the bigs by several teams gets called up so a mediocre journeyman can go from playing completely out of position to just somewhat out of position to cover for arguably our best hitters IL placement despite the fact that the guy going on the IL is practically the textbook definition of league average in the first place. Pitching has been solid though and looks like even better hurlers are on the horizon though. Let’s go Bucs.
they already are
I’ve been a believer for years with this guy, might be time to change my mind. He will never reach the pricetag of 11M$ again in his career probably
Ya the old 1 for 30 !? Really? Craig maybe?
Release him. He can find himself somewhere else, but this crap show needs to end already. If angels can drop Pujols, Pirates can drop Polanco.
At this point if they’re gonna eat the money anyway they might as well keep him and let him play, not gonna catch Detroit and Colorado for that first pick in next draft by making the team better.. This is the last guaranteed year on his deal and the option years will be bought out after the season anyway. Plus the only outfielder in AAA that is actually potentially good is Swaggerty who would be playing in center anyway
Pirates have a few OFs coming through the MLB Pipeline. next couple years.
Oliva, Mitchel, Smith-Njigba (yes i had to copy and paste that). + swaggerty…. None really are super star level but all probably better than Polanco. Hopefully a couple push through to be seen in 2022 then the pirates could have a decent outfield again out side of Reynolds.
Just an excuse for the Pirates to save a couple dollars
How do “they” know he worked out in another gym?
I really don’t see a huge problem here… the only real hitch is the close contact with the team.. they should have made a 5 calendar day DL for this.. 5day’s + two negatives on 3rd and 5th day… good to go.
Trade him to TB where he will become an All Star!
Regardless of what happens in sure Nutting has no problem NOT paying him.
Another idiot who thinks rules don’t apply to him.
Add good judgement and veteran leadership to the many qualities Polanco brings to the table.