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The Philadelphia Phillies have declined the 2013 club options of infielder Ty Wigginton and right-hander Jose Contreras, as well as the mutual option of third baseman Placido Polanco, reports Todd Zolecki of MLB.com:
Phillies decline club options on Contreras and Wigginton. Each get $500,000 buyouts.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 29, 2012
Phillies decline their 2013 option on Placido Polanco. The two sides had a mutual option.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 29, 2012
Buying out the 40-year-old Contreras, who was in the second year of a two-year deal with the Phillies, was a no-brainer for the club. Following a successful 2010 campaign, Contreras signed a new contract with the club and proceeded to fall apart, throwing only twenty-seven and two-thirds innings over the last two seasons.
Wigginton, 35, put up his typical mediocre numbers splitting time at the corner infield spots this season, hitting .235/.314/.375 with eleven home runs in one hundred twenty-five games. The veteran utility man was on a $4 million contract this year with an option at the same salary for next season, but the Phillies chose to buy Wigginton out instead.
After an All-Star and Gold Glove season with the Phillies in 2011, it seemed very likely that Polanco would have his $5.5 million option picked up this offseason. Following a disappointing 2012 beset by injuries, however, the Phillies have decided to try their luck elsewhere, buying out Polanco for $1 million. Polanco played just ninety games for Philadelphia this year, hitting .257/.302/.327 with just two home runs.