DALLAS — If the Detroit Tigers are serious about seeking a full-time second baseman, they could consider a familiar face.

Former infielder Placido Polanco is reportedly being shopped by the Philadelphia Phillies, FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported early Monday.

Rosenthal cited the Phillies’ interest in free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez as the rationale behind Polanco’s sudden availability. The Tigers have also inquired about Ramirez as a third base option, though free-agent talks have reportedly slowed as of late.

Despite the recent signing of utility infielder Ramon Santiago, there’s been no indication Detroit has removed itself from trades talks involving Atlanta’s Martin Prado or Los Angeles’ Maicer Izturis. Polanco would only add to the list of potential full-time candidates.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said in early November that second and third base were the “areas that will get most of our attention.” The second-turned-third baseman Polanco could seemingly spell both positions.

The Tigers signed Santiago to a two-year deal last week, but early indications suggest the club remains interested in acquiring a full-time second baseman. As of now, the Tigers would platoon Santiago and Ryan Raburn at second, according to Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

Polanco, who hit a career high .341 and made the All-Star team in 2007, remains under contract through 2012 and is due to earn $7.25 million in 2012 — the final year of his $18 million contract.

The 36-year-old played five seasons in Detroit after being traded in June 2005 for reliever Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramon Martinez. He became the first everyday second baseman to play an entire season without committing an error after playing in 144 consecutive errorless games in 2007.

Polanco signed with Philadelphia in 2009 when Detroit wasn’t prepared to offer him a multi-year deal with Scott Sizemore, its minor league player of the year, waiting in the wings. He has played third base in Philadelphia the past two years after winning Gold Gloves at second base for Detroit in 2007 and 2009.

Health and durability remain big concerns regarding Polanco after he underwent double hernia surgery in October. He is expected to be ready for Opening Day, according to multiple reports.

Polanco has seen his overall offensive production decrease the past two years while missing 30 games in 2010 and 40 games in 2011. He’ll look to rebound in 2012 after batting .277 in 122 games this season — the lowest batting average he’s recorded since hitting .277 in 1999.

It’s an intriguing thought, but perhaps too heavy an investment for Detroit. The Tigers have other issues to address — including a need for a leadoff hitter — that may be of higher priority, and investing $7.25 million in a part-time utility infielder could be too big a risk.

That being said, Polanco could seemingly be a solid candidate to hit No. 2 in the lineup and would certainly be an offensive upgrade at both second and third base.

The busy offseason for the Philadelphia Phillies continues. The team acquired Ty Wigginton form the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later. This is yet another key move the team has done to address their depth issues. While there are still a lot of questions that remain as the team prepares for the 2012 season, it feels pretty clear that the Phillies will be a lot deeper next season. As a Phillies fan, that is news I am going to welcome. The move to get Wigginton is another great one for the team this offseason.

By getting Wigginton, the Phillies have had added a great utility player that can play anywhere on the field. Over the past few seasons, Wigginton has essentially been an everyday player but has covered a variety of positions. He has mostly played the infield. Given the health issues of guys like Ryan Howard(notes) and Placido Polanco(notes), the addition of Wigginton will really help this team. His versatility makes him a steal.

Aside from being able to play the field, Wigginton will also help the Phillies at the plate. He is a 20 home run guy that knows how to get on base. Wigginton is also a right handed hitter, something the Phillies have been lacking in recent years. He gives them a lot more flexibility in pinch hit situations. He also comes cheap. The Colorado Rockies will pay about half of his $4 million salary in 2012.

The Phillies still have a lot of work to do, but addressing the bench was one major issue that they appear to have solved. The team still needs an additional outfield, but with Wigginton and Jim Thome(notes) in the mix the Phillies are far deeper than they were in 2011. For a team that often struggled to hit in big situations, these are two guys that can really help them off the bench. In the case of Wigginton, it almost feels like the Phillies added a new starter even though he might not play every day. Given the number of injuries in 2011, that is huge. The improved bench should make it easier for the team to weather any injuries.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Ty Wigginton(notes) from the Colorado Rockies. He is a decent right-handed hitter, who can play a number of infield and outfield positions.

The Phillies will give the Rockies a player, or cash, in return. Plus, they only have to pay half of his $4 million salary in 2012.

The 34-year-old isn’t a starter. He should be useful at various spots, including first base, due to Ryan Howard’s(notes) present health status.

Around the majors

Wigginton is a well-traveled veteran who began his major league career with the New York Mets in 2002.

Since then, he has played for: the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays (who were the Devil Rays when he was with them in 2006 and 2007), Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and the Rockies.

‘Wiggy’ finished eighth in the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year voting when he was with the Mets. At that time he was their starting third baseman.

Fielding

Wigginton has played the majority of games (656) in his career at third base and has a .951 fielding percentage.

In 258 games at first base, he has a .992 fielding percentage. If Howard isn’t able to start the season, he should be playing there against left-handed pitching.

He has played 75 combined games in left field and right field. His combined fielding percentage is .960.

Hitting

The San Diego, Calif. native’s batting average has declined for three consecutive seasons after he hit .285 in 386 at bats for the Astros in 2008. Last season, he hit .242 in 401 at bats.

He has produced four seasons of home run totals in the 20s during his career, including 2010 when he hit 22 in 581 at bats and made the American League All-Star team. Last season, he hit 15 home runs.

His OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) was .876 in 2008. Last season it was .731.

What he adds

With former Cleveland Indian and returned Phillie Jim Thome(notes) previously signed as a free agent, the team has increased its power threats from the left and now from the right side of the plate.

General manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said that Wigginton is seen as a corner infielder. So, he may also find time with Placido Polanco(notes) at third base.

His addition isn’t enough to make this team’s offense as consistent and as clutch as it must be in order to seriously contend for a World Series championship.

The pending decision about free agent Jimmy Rollins(notes) and a further resolution regarding the open left field spot, will be the main pieces that set Philadelphia’s 2012 offensive stage.

After earning a Communications degree from Penn State in 1990, Sean started his career in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons front office. At that time they were the Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A farm team. He has written professionally for over two decades. Read his Sports Blog: Insight and follow him on Twitter @ SeanyOB

More from Sean O’Brien and the Yahoo Contributor Network:

When Baseball Cards were King

Will money, or competition stop the Phillies from signing Cuban Star Cespedes?

Dodgers’ Kershaw kicks Cy Young competition to the curb

Penn State’s response to the Sandusky scandal

Phillies signed former Red Sox closer Papelbon for seasoned reasons

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed a big money closer. Now, they must focus on one area of their team if they hope to put themselves into position to become World Series’ contenders again.

The team must improve its offense if there is any hope of adjusting their fall outcome in 2012.

J-Roll

Here’s a plain and simple answer to their shortstop issue.

It is completely okay if Jimmy Rollins(notes) returns next season. But, he needs to bat no higher than sixth in the order if he does.

J-Roll’s glove work at shortstop is historically significant. He currently ranks third on baseball’s all-time fielding percentage leader board for all players who have ever played 500 or more games.

As a result, his superb defense saves runs. There is no getting around a big point that also leads into an offensive discussion.

Rollins is still effective, even though he no longer produces near the levels that he did during his 2007 National League Most Valuable Player season.

This team needs someone who has a much higher OPS at the top of their lineup.

It would also be good if that person isn’t Shane Victorino(notes), as his OPS isn’t that much higher than Rollins.

It would be helpful if the Phillies could acquire a replacement player to fill the leadoff role.

If Rollins isn’t re-signed, then his spot is one of a few that could be targeted for that transition.

Left field

Raul Ibanez(notes) was a good guy and a decent player. But, something different will be needed from his lineup slot next season.

As Domonic Brown(notes) is far from a certainty, he can’t be counted on. Plus, he has played right field and will also apparently need to make a change to the other side of the outfield before big league duty becomes an option.

While John Mayberry(notes) has shown excellent promise, fans should not assume that he can simply become the everyday starter. A platoon role would seem reasonable and possibly, as time moves forward, he will assume a starting slot.

A contact hitter, who plays small ball, would fit nicely into this left field position with Mayberry.

Polly and Chase

When Ryan Howard(notes) returns, the team will be counting on four of it’s eight regulars to repeat last season’s performances.

In addition to Howard, Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence(notes) and Carlos Ruiz(notes) performed as was expected in 2011.

As for Chase Utley(notes) and Placido Polanco(notes), both men need to produce far more than they did last season. Without that happening, it would seem hard to imagine how the team can improve that much offensively.

If Rollins leaves, the Phillies will add a new shortstop and a new left fielder to the mix.

That combination of new players and old veterans will simply have to do more.

Pitching and defense don’t win in the playoffs. Clutch hitting is also needed, as the Phillies learned when they faced the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants during the past two seasons.

After earning a Communications degree from Penn State in 1990, Sean started his career in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons front office. At that time they were the Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A farm team. Read his Sports Blog: Insight and follow him on Twitter @ SeanyOB

More from Sean O’Brien and the Yahoo Contributor Network:

When Baseball Cards were King

Will money, or competition stop the Phillies from signing Cuban Star Cespedes?

Dodgers’ Kershaw kicks Cy Young competition to the curb

Penn State’s response to the Sandusky scandal

Phillies signed former Red Sox closer Papelbon for seasoned reasons

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – The Philadelphia Phillies announced
updates on several injured players Friday, including first baseman Ryan Howard
and pitcher Cole Hamels.

Howard, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon on the Phillies’ last at-bat of
the postseason, had stitches removed on Tuesday and began his rehabilitation
program in Philadelphia, progressing to partial weight bearing.

Hamels had his stitches removed on Thursday from surgery to remove loose
bodies in his pitching arm. The lefty also had a follow-up exam for his hernia
surgery and has been cleared to progress back to his regular offseason
program.

Third baseman Placido Polanco and outfielder Hunter Pence are each recovering
from surgeries to correct sports hernias and are continuing their
rehabilitation programs. Polanco is rehabbing in Miami, while Pence is
recovering in Philadelphia.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Contreras is recovering from a right forearm strain
and will begin isometric forearm strengthening next week. He is on track to
progress to regular strengthening in the beginning of December and initiate
throwing at the beginning of January.

Ross Gload, who was mainly used a pinch hitter for the Phillies, was evaluated
by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on October 18 for an issue with his hip, but it
was determined an arthroscopic procedure was not needed at this time. The 10-
year veteran was set up with an offseason rehabilitation program.

The Sports Network

Philadelphia Phillies fans are still in shock over their team’s early exit out of the Major League Baseball playoffs.

For the second year in a row the Phillies came into the playoffs with baseball’s best record and exited before reaching the World Series.

Understandably there’s plenty of blame to go around. The Express Times’ Brad Wilson points his finger at Charlie Manuel while Josh Folck showers criticism on Cliff Lee.

Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, Placido Polanco and many others have also faced the fans’ angry pitchforks.

lehighvalleylive.com reader quitcomplaining thinks that the blamers are both right and wrong. How’s that? quitcomplaining believes it was a collective team failing and writes:

“Instead of pointing fingers, how about this… the team as a whole got too cocky and their over confidence was their downfall. They thought they were unbeatable. The cards obviously wanted it more, were more focused on the prize, and worked a heck of a lot harder for it.”

Do you think the Phillies fell short of the World Series because they were too cocky? Were they not mentally prepared to face the Cardinals? Or would you rather shower blame on individuals? Share your thoughts and comments below.