Mariners Acquire 2B Polanco from Twins in Pitcher Trade

After multiple unsuccessful attempts, the Seattle Mariners have successfully secured a trade deal to acquire Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins. On Monday, the Mariners traded pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa, along with two minor leaguers and cash, to acquire Polanco.

Expressing his eagerness about the trade, Seattle general manager Justin Hollander mentioned, “I think I personally made more calls on this trade than I ever have on any trade before at the behest of both my own want to add him, and our group.”

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The trade is anticipated to benefit both teams, with Seattle gaining a proven switch-hitter for their lineup, and a healthy Polanco expected to bring an upgrade at second base. In return, the Twins receive a standout reliever in Topa, a viable starter in DeSclafani, and one of Seattle’s top prospects in outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez. Minor league pitcher Darren Brown is also part of the package going to Minnesota.

The 33-year-old Anthony DeSclafani, who was traded to the Mariners from San Francisco earlier this month, posted a 4.88 ERA for the Giants last season in 18 starts. On the other hand, Justin Topa, a right-handed pitcher, had an impressive rookie year with the Mariners in 2023, registering a 2.61 ERA in 75 relief appearances.

Jorge Polanco, aged 30, became available for trade due to the emergence of rookie Edouard Julien for the Twins in the previous season. The Twins, aiming to reduce their club-record payroll from 2023, decided to part ways with Polanco amid uncertainties surrounding regional broadcast revenue. Polanco is set to earn $10.5 million this season, and his contract includes a $12 million club option for 2025 with a $750,000 buyout.

In 2023, Polanco returned from a knee injury to contribute significantly, hitting .255 with 14 home runs and a .789 OPS in 80 games for the Twins. He played at both second and third base, adapting to accommodate the emerging Julien. Polanco holds the record for the most home runs (112) by a switch-hitter in Twins history.

Having signed with the Twins in 2009, Polanco made his MLB debut in 2014, served as the regular shortstop in 2016, and transitioned to second base in 2021. Although ankle and knee issues limited his playing time in recent years, Polanco excelled at the plate when he remained healthy. He earned an All-Star selection in 2019, hitting a career-high .295 in 153 games. In 2021, he achieved personal bests with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs in 152 games.

Throughout his career, Polanco has maintained a .269 batting average with a .780 OPS in 832 games.

“We conducted a comprehensive medical assessment, thoroughly understanding the nature of the injuries,” Hollander stated. “It was crucial for us and our training staff to know the work ethic of Polanco, and all the feedback indicated that he is an exceptionally hard worker.”

Seattle was initially planning to enter the season with Josh Rojas as the probable primary second baseman, acquired last summer from Arizona. Rojas, who hit .272 in 46 games and made 38 starts at second base after joining the Mariners, was expected to fill the role.

Rojas and Dylan Moore are likely to serve as utility players coming off the bench for Seattle.

DeSclafani was considered as a potential option for the back end of Seattle’s rotation this season. After an outstanding 2021 with San Francisco, where he went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 31 starts, he has had limited starts in the past two seasons. The right-hander is in the final year of a $36 million, three-year deal, earning $12 million this year.

DeSclafani has faced numerous injury challenges throughout his decade-long career in the major leagues, including a bout of elbow strain that kept him sidelined last summer. In discussions with Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey after the trade, DeSclafani expressed that his arm has been in good condition during the winter.

“We appreciate the quality of this player’s pitching abilities. He has the potential to be effective anywhere in the rotation,” Falvey remarked. “When he’s been injury-free, he’s proven to be a highly capable pitcher. Our primary focus is on keeping him healthy.”

The addition of DeSclafani will offer valuable depth to the Twins’ rotation, especially considering the departure of Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, and Tyler Mahle in free agency. Falvey mentioned that both DeSclafani and Louie Varland will be considered as starters during spring training, and the club will make a decision on the No. 5 starter position. Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Chris Paddack are already designated for the first four spots in the rotation.

The departure of Topa will be a setback for the Mariners, given his reliability as one of their most consistent relief pitchers. During the previous season, Topa recorded 61 strikeouts in 69 innings and showcased an impressive performance over two months last summer, allowing just one earned run across 27 appearances.

Gabriel Gonzalez, at the age of 19, gained recognition as one of the Mariners’ top prospects. He achieved a combined batting average of .298 with 18 home runs and 84 RBIs while playing for two Class-A clubs during the last season.