As usual, the Mariners have continued to bring in new candidates for next season, even though their quest for consistent production from the second base position over the past five seasons has yielded little fruit.
On Monday night, the Mariners completed a trade with the Minnesota Twins for former All-Star infielder Jorge Polanco, veteran right-handed pitchers Justin Topa and Anthony DeSclafani, and minor league prospect Gabriel Gonzalez, a professional baseball player. A trade was completed to acquire a package of players. outfielder, right-handed pitcher Darren Bowen, and Cash.
“We've liked him and tried to get him for years,” general manager Justin Hollander said in a video conference Monday night. “I think I personally made more calls on this trade than any other trade to date because of my desire to add him and our group. I feel like it’s going to make us even better.”
Polanco, 30, played in just 80 games for Minnesota last season. He was placed on injured reserve twice due to lingering tightness in his left hamstring. This allowed Eduardo Julien, who was considered a promising prospect, to develop and take over as the Twins' regular second baseman. Polanco, a switch hitter, appeared in 343 at-bats and posted a batting average of .255/.335/.454 with 18 doubles, 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, 36 walks, and 88 strikeouts.
However, injuries have been an issue in recent seasons.
“We did a very thorough medical exam,” Hollander said. “I think we understand what the injury is. One of the important things for us, one of the important things for the training staff as well, is to understand what kind of employee he is. All of our feedback was that he works harder than anyone else.”
Polanco made his MLB debut in 2014 at the age of 20. However, his first extra-inning appearance at the MLB level came in 2016. He was selected to the AL All-Star team in 2019. He played in 153 games that season, hitting .295/.356/.485 with 30 doubles, seven triples, 22 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 107 RBIs. In MLB he appeared in over 3,500 at-bats and his career slash line is .269/.334/.446.
“Switch hitters are huge for us as we build our team,” Hollander said. “Having someone who is split-neutral and can hit in the middle of the lineup from either side is a huge advantage for Scott (Servais) as he stacks up the lineup.”
Polanco, a former shortstop, played second and third base in the Twins' crowded infield last season. He will be the Mariners' primary second baseman, and Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore, who were scheduled to platoon at that position, will be moved to utility/bench roles. Rojas could platoon with Luis Urias at third base if needed.
“It gives Scott a lot of options every day to determine who is the best fit depending on what the other team is doing from a pitching standpoint,” Hollander said. “It's flexible and helps prevent injury. We're not as uncomfortable as the injury.”
Both the Mariners and Twins have limited payroll budgets, so this deal needed to be financially viable for both teams.
Polanco will make $10.5 million in 2025 with a $12 million club option. DeSclafani will make $12 million in 2024 before becoming a free agent. Topa will earn $1.25 million in the first year of arbitration. According to sources, the Mariners are sending the Twins the $6 million they received from the Giants when they acquired DeSclafani, plus more of their own money.
Topa, 32, was acquired from the Brewers in a trade for a minor league pitcher last offseason, and will appear in a career-high 75 relief games with the Mariners in 2023, going 5-4 with a 2.61 ERA (2023). , with an ERA of 69.0). IP) 18 walks, 61 strikeouts.
“Justin Topa was great for us from day one of spring training last year,” Hollander said. “He showed up, he was open to coaching, he was open to new ideas, he stayed on the mound every day and worked hard to help us. He gave us big outs all year. . I think it's most likely internal, but we need to replace it with the possibility that it's external as well.”
DeSclafani was recently acquired along with outfielder Mitch Haniger in a trade with the Giants that sent left-hander Robbie Ray to San Francisco. Seattle's rotation was already set, and DeSclafani was expected to be used as a depth starter/long reliever in the Mariners' pitching staff.
Gonzalez, who turned 20 on January 4, is rated the Mariners' No. 5 prospect by Baseball America. He started the 2023 season in Low-A Modesto, hitting .348/.403/.530 with 19 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 54 RBIs, 23 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 73 games. left behind. He was promoted to High-A Everett in mid-July and appeared in 43 games with the AquaSox. He struggled, hitting .216/.290/.387 with four doubles, nine home runs, 30 RBIs, 13 walks, and 43 strikeouts.
Bowen, who turns 23 on February 2, was selected in the 13th round of the 2023 draft out of UNC Wilmington. He started 15 games and made four relief appearances for Modesto, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.88 ERA.
Will there be more movement before pitchers and catchers report to spring training or in the final two weeks before the season begins?
“I feel like the team is more complete than yesterday, and I feel like we're better than yesterday,” Hollander said. “I don't want to rule anything out. I don't want to promise anything. It's impossible to say what will happen between now and the start of the regular season.”
