When the Seattle Mariners sent a four-player haul to the Minnesota Twins to acquire Jorge Polanco, they believed they were getting an All-Star with a middle-of-the-order presence. Unfortunately for them, their blockbuster acquisition was a shadow of his former self.
Polanco spent most of 2024 dealing with a lingering knee injury, which ultimately required offseason surgery to repair his patellar tendon. Like many ballplayers, he kept the injury quiet, playing through the pain. Unfortunately, the Mariners have seen this scenario before—first baseman Ty France was notorious for trying to push through injuries rather than addressing them. Much like France, Polanco is a frequent offensive contributor when healthy. In 10 seasons, he never saw his average drop below .230. Polanco had his career year in 2019, putting up 4.7 WAR and slashing .295/.356/.485 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI. In the four years that followed, Polanco saw his offensive contributions decline but still prove valuable. Through those seasons, he hit .256 with 67 home runs and 221 RBI, accumulating 9.8 WAR.
Polanco’s output in 2024 greatly declined. His average dropped to .213, and he finished the year with a career-high strikeout total of 137. That put him at a 29.2% strikeout rate, up 4% from 2023. There are silver linings, though. His home runs were up two from 2023, and he almost matched his RBI total from the year before.
Now, out of financial flexibility and roster options, the Mariners are turning to the veteran second baseman to help fill their gap at third base. Polanco signed a one-year deal and has played just 24 games at the hot corner in his career.
However, Seattle has the upper hand. Their infield guru, Perry Hill, worked wonders with Polanco in 2024, and there’s optimism that Hill can work his magic with the veteran again in 2025.
How Will Polanco Fit Into the Mariners’ Plans?
He opened spring training as the designated hitter, going 0-for-2 in his debut. While he didn’t reach base, Polanco looked noticeably more balanced—a key adjustment he discussed with Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.
“It affected my balance,” Polanco admitted. “Your legs are significant to hitting. You have to use them. You have to use the ground. I couldn’t.”
That’s concerning for someone who played 118 games in a struggling offense. But his following statement sparks optimism.
“Now it feels way better. I’m using my legs. I’m connected to the ground, and it feels good.”
Polanco’s mindset heading into the season is worth noting, especially given the Mariners’ financial constraints and lack of major offseason moves. Despite that, he remains confident in the team’s potential.
“The players here are really good,” he said. “The chemistry we built by the end of last season was really good. I wanted to come back here. I know we’ve got a chance.”
Seattle is being cautious with Polanco, keeping him out of the field for now. However, Divish expects him to receive clearance to play third base sometime next week. In the meantime, he’ll continue individual drills as the Mariners hope for a fully healthy and productive season from their infield gamble.
Main Photo Credits: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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