The Twins were reportedly interested in moving former All-Star Jorge Polanco, and it looks like Minnesota has found a suitor. Minnesota and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a trade that will see Jorge Polanco go to the AL West in exchange for four players. Here’s a closer look at the deal.
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The Mariners’ Return
- 2B Jorge Polanco (.255/.335/.454, 14 HR and 32 XBH in 80 G)
It wasn’t long ago that new Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco hit 33 home runs in what was a career season in 2021. However, Polanco has not been able to have the same impact since then.
Injuries stymied Polanco over the last two seasons, including low back tightness, knee inflammation in both 2022 and 2023, and a left hamstring strain. Still, Polanco performed when on the field. Most recently, he hit 14 home runs and 32 extra-base hits over 80 games last year.
Polanco is a pull-heavy switch hitter with above-average pop and bat speed, which has helped him turn in good barrel rates over the last three seasons. He’s also done reasonably well against both right-handed (.803 OPS, 81 HR in 2,444 career PA) and left-handed (.729 OPS, 31 HR in 1,085 career PA) pitching.
The new Mariner has turned in roughly average to below-average Chase% and BB% rates, aside from the two abbreviated seasons in 2022-23.
Defensively, Polanco has moved around over the years. Polanco was a shortstop for much of his early years but found a home at second come 2021. But after Edouard Julien established himself at the MLB level, Polanco shifted and spent time at third.
An infielder with slightly above-average speed when healthy and below-average arm strength, Polanco fits better at second.
The Twins’ Trade
- SP Anthony DeSclafani (4.88 ERA, 79 K over 99.2 IP)
- SP Darren Bowen (3.88 ERA, 59 K over 55.2 IP (A))
- RP Justin Topa (2.61 ERA, 61 K over 69 IP)
- OF Gabriel Gonzalez (.298/.361/.476, 18 HR and 45 XBH over 535 PA (A and A+))
Right-hander Justin Topa didn’t get much of a look at the MLB level between 2020-22 with the Brewers. Topa, though, did find a home with the M’s last year in what was a dominant Seattle bullpen.
Topa struck out 61 over 69 innings and posted a strong Barrel% that rated in the 97th percentile per Statcast, as well as a 2.61 ERA. The 32-year-old won’t be a whiff machine, as he’ll pound the zone with the sinker.
But one weapon he didn’t use in Milwaukee but he did with Seattle is a low-to-mid-90s cutter. It’s a weapon that he used with efficacy up and in against left-handers, who only hit .216/.307/.352 (.659 OPS) against him in 2023.
But maybe the biggest piece in this deal is Gabriel Gonzalez, who MLB.com ranked #3 among Mariners prospects as of the end of 2023.
Gonzalez has hit everywhere he’s been thus far, as the 20-year-old owns a career MiLB batting average of .302 and has struck out just 167 times over 237 games. The new Twin’s likely a hit over power guy but he’s shown some pop in the Minors and has a quick bat.
The Twins also acquired starter Anthony DeSclafani, previously acquired by Seattle in the trade that sent Robbie Ray to San Francisco.
Analysis
The Mariners’ quest for a second baseman might be over. Seattle tried Kolten Wong, Jose Caballero, and Josh Rojas there last season but Polanco is a clear offensive upgrade.
Seattle will have control of Polanco for at least this season at $10.5MM, and he does have a $12MM club option for 2025. It’ll come down to health but the power bat of Jorge Polanco should help a Mariners team that’s lost some pop this winter.
As for the Twins, there were rumors that Minnesota’s been looking to deal both Polanco and Max Kepler for payroll-cutting purposes this winter. Now, the Twins could theoretically hold on to Kepler, even though Minnesota has a plethora of left-handed hitting corner outfielders, but Polanco was a different story.
With Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Kyle Farmer, the aforementioned Edouard Julien, as well as youngsters Austin Martin and Jose Miranda, the Twins have depth in the infield and Polanco was in a squeeze.
The Twins did get a good middle reliever in Topa who can get both lefties and righties out, plus a projectable bat in Gabriel Gonzalez. Not to mention, Anthony DeSclafani could be very useful for Minnesota given that Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda are no longer in town.