BREAKING: Mariners Confirms Position Change for Star Jorge Polanco
On January 29, 2024, the Seattle Mariners acquired Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for four players, hoping he would provide veteran leadership and stabilize their issues at second base. However, things didn’t go as planned.
Polanco struggled to adapt to his new team and battled a persistent knee injury, causing him to miss nearly the final 50 games of the season. Unfortunately, he endured the worst season of his career, posting a .213/.296/.355 slash line with a .651 OPS over 118 games—both career lows. He also struck out a career-high 137 times.
Despite these struggles, there were some positives. Polanco maintained his power, hitting 16 home runs, and played solid defense at second base. He committed only seven errors, significantly lower than the usual 15-20 range according to Statcast and MLB, marking his best defensive season when playing over 100 games.
Mariners Star Jorge Polanco Will Try His Luck at Third
Polanco’s struggles led the Mariners to decline his 2025 option, making him a free agent. While there was speculation about potential moves to the Houston Astros or New York Yankees, Seattle ultimately re-signed him to a one-year deal on February 3, 2025.
What surprised fans most was the announcement that Polanco would not be returning to second base. Instead, he would take on a new role as the Mariners’ third baseman—a position he had played just 24 times in his career before 2025.
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This decision addresses a key issue for Seattle, which struggled to replace Eugenio Suárez at third base. Meanwhile, second base has been a revolving door since Robinson Canó’s departure, with multiple players—including Polanco—failing to provide long-term stability. The Mariners have also had a tendency to move on quickly from struggling players, as seen with Adam Frazier, Jesse Winker, and Kolten Wong.
Despite past challenges, Seattle appears confident in Polanco’s potential at third base under fielding coach Perry Hill. Footage posted to X shows him looking comfortable in his new role. If all goes well, 2025 could be the year Polanco regains his form.