One day after getting a big Opening Day victory at home, the Pittsburgh Pirates have locked up their young star for the foreseeable future. The Pirates and outfielder Gregory Polanco agreed to a five-year contract extension on Monday morning. The deal has a base value of $35 million, but could reach more than $60 million.
The deal was first speculated by Yahoo Sports on Sunday night, and will reach that maximum value if the team exercises both options.
The team is aiming to keep their young core of the outfield together, and began that process two seasons back. The Pirates extended center fielder Andrew McCutchen and left fielder Starling Marte six years each. McCutchen got his deal before the 2013 season, which is worth $51.5 million. And Marte got his prior to the 2014 season, and got $31 million in that deal.
The 24-year-old batted .256 last season, with nine home runs and 52 RBIs, to go along with 27 stolen bases in his first full year in the majors. He did heat up after the All-Star break, batting .276 with a .749 OPS. The young star went 2-for-3 in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, and looks to bring those numbers up with the extension intact.
The deal was first speculated by Yahoo Sports on Sunday night, and will reach that maximum value if the team exercises both options.
The team is aiming to keep their young core of the outfield together, and began that process two seasons back. The Pirates extended center fielder Andrew McCutchen and left fielder Starling Marte six years each. McCutchen got his deal before the 2013 season, which is worth $51.5 million. And Marte got his prior to the 2014 season, and got $31 million in that deal.
The 24-year-old batted .256 last season, with nine home runs and 52 RBIs, to go along with 27 stolen bases in his first full year in the majors. He did heat up after the All-Star break, batting .276 with a .749 OPS. The young star went 2-for-3 in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, and looks to bring those numbers up with the extension intact.
