The Mariners struck gold with last winter’s re-signing of Jorge Polanco on a $6MM free agent deal. They attributed his down 2024 season to a knee injury that had required postseason meniscus surgery. The switch-hitting infielder rewarded their faith by connecting on 26 home runs with a .265/.326/.495 slash across 524 plate appearances.
Polanco has certainly put himself in position for a more lucrative trip this time around. Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports that his representatives at Octagon are pursing a three- or four-year deal that pays upwards of $12MM. That’s roughly in line with the three-year, $42MM prediction which MLBTR put in ranking Polanco the #23 free agent of the offseason. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers writes that he could sign during the Winter Meetings.
It remains to be seen whether any team will meet that ask. The Mariners have spoken openly about their desire to bring Polanco back. Divish writes that a three-year guarantee may be beyond the team’s comfort zone, however. According to Divish, the club would rather limit the commitment to two years — potentially with a mutual or vesting option for 2028.
A straightforward mutual option wouldn’t move the needle much from Polanco’s perspective. Mutual options are essentially never exercised, as their purpose is to allow the team to delay the payment of a portion of the contract. (Rather than evenly distributing the money over the course of a season as salary, the option buyout is paid as a lump sum after the end of the World Series.) A vesting option comes with more upside than a mutual option would, but it requires him to stay healthy and hit certain playing time benchmarks. That’s no small caveat, especially for a player with Polanco’s injury history. His camp would obviously prefer to get the extra year fully guaranteed.
There are reasons for the M’s to be wary of a three-year commitment. Polanco turns 33 next July. The knee issues limited him to primary designated hitter work for the majority of the season. The M’s used him more frequently at second base in September and headed into the postseason. He only started 39 regular season games on defense, though, and the positional questions won’t go away as he gets into his mid-30s.
“I can’t tell you whether or not we will wind up being the team that reels him in,” president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said of Polanco’s market (via Divish). “But we have to spread a wider net than that. With the more likely reality is that you wind up somewhere else, moving in a different direction, because that’s just the odds. But we’ll engage, and we will remain connected to him. He was an important player for us, and I don’t think that has changed.”
Polanco has been mentioned as a possibility for a Pirates team that is willing to be more aggressive in free agency to improve the lineup. There aren’t a ton of free agent alternatives at second base. Ha-Seong Kim could command a similar contract to Polanco and might sign as a shortstop. Luis Rengifo and Willi Castro are reclamation targets. The third base market is a little deeper. Alex Bregman tops the group, while Eugenio Suárez and NPB slugger Kazuma Okamoto are in the middle tiers. Yoán Moncada and Ramón Urías should be available on one-year deals, while KBO infielder Sung-mun Song is available via the posting system.
Would prefer a 3 year deal with Kim since need SS,plus younger I believe. Pirates please sign Kim & Okomoto.Kim to plays & Okomoto to play 3B
Good luck
Wouldn’t mind seeing an “under the radar” team signing Okomoto. Or any big free agent, really.
Schwarber!
I have a feeling that Game 7 of the ALCS was Polanco’s final game with the Mariners.
Agreed, I hope we take advantage of the infield prospects we have. They sound really good. Plus they’re all younger.
He’s not coming back, is he? Sad!
maybe just wait a few days to cry over it? It hasn’t happed yet. He’s still a great fit and may re-sign. Aint no way Seattle goes four years, but nobody else will either.
Chill
Go 4 5 if needed. Goal is to get player. Get a lower aav. Won’t be surprised if a team goes 4.
If you typed that in all caps I would’ve assumed you were someone “special”
Eh 3 years is a nice ask but he’ll probably get 2 and an option with his age and becoming more and more of a DH option
It’s funny how much his age is listed as a reason he won’t get more than two years, yet he’s 4 months younger than Schwarber and 23 months younger than Suarez.
Suarez isn’t going to get 3 either.
Schwarbs will but that’s what happens when you’re in a different class.
Schwarber and Polanco are not comparable players on a number of levels. I think Polanco will get a longer deal than Suarez.
Its sort of a dual problem with Polanco. He seems injury prone, and while his bat bounced back nicely last year I dont know if anyone feels confident in his ability to play a full season in the field.
He’s more of a 2B/DH at this point IMO which limits the years anyone wants to go on him.
@good vibes being ‘not comparable’ and lazily failing to compare them are very different things. Both are primary DHs at this point with strong bats and limited gloves. Polanco still has some value defensively in the infield (although he’s below average at best at each position) while Schwarber is a DH only. Schwarber is a lefty coming off a strong 152 wRC+ season while Polanco is a righty coming off a strong 132 wRC+ season.
Given that there are teams look at these guys to be there primary DH, at different cost levels, it’s essential they are compared as they may fill the same role.
He is a very ordinary player who had a good year. No likelihood he will repeat that, so best to avoid. I hope the Mariners fall for the trap.
He’s a good hitter. Pretty much always has been. But he’s a big injury risk, is poor on defense and he’s getting into his mid 30’s. No smart team would go past 2 on Polanco.
M’s should give him 3/50 with half the money deferred. He can help ease Young into the 2b spot and DH for at least the next 2 years.
I’m not sure I’d use the words “Terrible idea” in reaction to that suggestion of a 3y 50% deferral contract for Polanco. Personally I think the idea of deferred money is a creative one. Seattle will have more payroll flexibility after this 2026 season and the FO has more or less said they are in a “win now ” mode.
It’s easy to see why so many M’s fans are desperate for Polanco to return. He was a major contributor to Seattle’s first AL West title in over 2 decades. He delivered so many clutch hits in pivotal situations all year. His ability to hit from both sides of the plate was a nightmare for opposing managers.
The M’s FO would love to sign Polanco to a one or 2 year deal. It’s hard to see them giving him 3
Angels
Polanco to San Diego is what I got. There’s a decent fit there. I think.
Polanco’s walkoff in the 15 inning game was one of my all-time baseball moments. Hope he gets paid, but I’m doubtful the Mariners bring him back unless they trade infield prospects.
Anyone signing Polanco as not a primary DH will be disappointed. Polanco’s body needs the rest and his defense is bottom of the barrel.
That is hilarious.
The Mariners shouldn’t go 3 on Polo, period. Unless they somehow now have unlimited money (and they won’t even come close to the lowest luxury tax level), it’s a rotten idea. 2/24 is a reach. At least three of SS, 2B, RF, 3B, DH have to be clutch hitters in order for the M’s to have a chance at a WS. If Young is at 2B and Williamson or Emerson are at 3B, then everything else has to be better than the current options of JP (who had a good year, but is essentially a 9 hitter); and Canzone/Robles/Raley, none of whom have proven themselves at either RF or DH. And that leaves a bench of Williamson or Emerson, a backup catcher, and any two of the outfielders listed, Bliss, Rivas, Taylor, Mastrobuoni, or Montes. None of those guys scare anyone.
Honestly I feel Polanco is a big risk for any years. I loved his bounce back year, will readily admit I was positive it was impossible and he turned my groans into cheers. He just seems too brittle to depend on so I’d be worried about a repeat for one year let alone two or three.