The Mariners are bringing again Jorge Polanco. Seattle is reportedly in settlement with the veteran infielder on a one-year deal, pending a bodily, that ensures $7.75MM and features a vesting/participant choice for 2026. The Octagon consumer will make a $7MM base wage subsequent 12 months and is assured at the least a $750K choice buyout. There are a further $3.5MM out there in incentives. Seattle intends to maneuver the longtime second baseman to 3rd base.
Polanco’s first season with the Mariners was a disappointment. Seattle acquired the switch-hitter from the Twins late final offseason. They anticipated him to offer a major offensive enhance within the infield. That didn’t pan out, as Polanco struggled by means of arguably the worst 12 months of his profession. He hit .213/.296/.355 with 16 residence runs by means of 469 plate appearances. The batting common and on-base share have been private lows. The slugging share was solely marginally above his career-worst .354 mark from the shortened 2020 season.
Earlier than final season, Polanco had been one of many league’s extra productive center infielders. He mixed for a .255/.333/.462 slash with a powerful 10.1% stroll charge in additional than 1400 plate appearances over his closing three seasons in Minnesota. Polanco had hit 33 homers again in 2021 and was an annual risk for 20 longballs and 30+ doubles. Polanco managed simply 11 doubles throughout his first 12 months in Seattle. He continued to attract walks at a stable 9.8% clip, however he struck out in additional than 29% of his plate appearances.
A few of the offensive downturn is attributable to T-Cellular Park. Seattle performs in MLB’s most pitcher-friendly residence stadium. Polanco had an particularly troublesome time at residence. He hit .193/.284/.322 whereas putting out at a 31.9% clip in Seattle. His highway manufacturing (.233/.308/.386 with a 26.7% strikeout charge) was higher however nonetheless effectively beneath his earlier requirements.
Well being could have been an even bigger concern than the ballpark. Polanco underwent surgical procedure to restore the patellar tendon in his left knee inside weeks of the season’s conclusion. He had reportedly performed by means of discomfort for a superb portion of the season. Polanco is predicted to be prepared for the beginning of Spring Coaching. The Mariners are as acquainted as any staff along with his well being historical past. They evidently consider that final 12 months’s struggles have been one thing of an aberration.
Whereas he’s coming into his tenth full season, Polanco is simply 31. His relative youth offers some optimism that final 12 months was principally a health-related anomaly. That stated, the whiffs have been a multiyear concern. Polanco’s strikeout charge has climbed by a number of share factors in 5 straight seasons. In 2020, he fanned in simply 15.5% of his plate appearances. That jumped successively to a 25.7% clip in his closing season with the Twins, which climbed almost 4 factors extra with the Mariners.
Polanco’s earlier contract included a $12MM staff choice that got here with a $750K buyout. Seattle declined that comparatively simply. 4 months later, they bring about him again at a barely lesser wage. It’s in all probability not a coincidence that the efficiency bonuses theoretically enable him to max out subsequent 12 months’s assure at $11.25MM — the differential beneath the choice worth and the buyout.
They’re not fairly operating issues again, as Polanco’s return comes with a place change. He has been a center infielder all through his profession. Polanco performed shortstop till transferring to second base in 2021. He didn’t play anyplace aside from second base final season. His main league third base expertise consists of 20 begins and 180 innings. Polanco has by no means been an amazing defensive second baseman. His vary may very well be much less of a problem at third, although that’ll put some stress on his arm. Polanco didn’t present nice arm power at second base, although that’s not a direct comparability to throwing throughout the diamond — which he did throughout his time as a shortstop.
Seattle feels extra comfy with their inner choices at second base than they do on the scorching nook. That bodes effectively for 25-year-old Ryan Bliss, who’s more likely to get first crack on the second base job. Bliss debuted late final season and hit .222/.290/.397 in 33 video games. A former second-round decide by the Diamondbacks, he had a top quality .269/.377/.456 displaying over 433 plate appearances with Triple-A Tacoma final 12 months.
The M’s will possible give Bliss the majority of the taking part in time whereas working utilityman Dylan Moore by means of the place. Seattle’s lone extra MLB free agent signing, Donovan Solano, also can play some second base (although he’ll get extra work as a platoon associate for Luke Raley at first). Seattle didn’t have anybody established at third base after non-tendering Josh Rojas.
Seattle wasn’t the one staff all in favour of increasing Polanco’s versatility. He reportedly drew curiosity from the Astros as a chance at both third base or in left discipline. Polanco has seemingly been Houston’s major fallback in the event that they don’t re-sign Alex Bregman. They now not want a 3rd baseman after touchdown Isaac Paredes within the Kyle Tucker deal, however they’re nonetheless trying to find a left fielder and wish to re-sign Bregman. That’d push Paredes to second and Jose Altuve to left discipline.
Seattle has reportedly had round $15-20MM in payroll house this winter. Solano and Polanco have accounted for simply over $11MM, leaving a couple of million for a possible bench bat or center aid pickup. RosterResource calculates their 2025 participant payroll round $152MM.
Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic first reported that Polanco and the Mariners had an settlement. Rosenthal was first to report the $7.75MM assure and the transfer to 3rd base. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Occasions reported that it was a one-year cope with a vesting/participant choice. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reported the $3.5MM in incentives. Picture courtesy of Imagn.
