Twins Trade 2B Polanco to Mariners in 5-Player Deal
The Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins have completed a five-player trade, with second baseman Jorge Polanco heading to Seattle.
Trade Details
The Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins have reached an agreement on a five-player trade. The deal involves second baseman Jorge Polanco being traded to the Mariners.
In exchange for Polanco, the Twins will receive outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez, reliever Justin Topa, starter Anthony DeSclafani, and minor league pitcher Darren Bowen.
The Mariners will also provide cash considerations as part of the trade. Both teams have announced the deal.
Polanco Joins the Mariners
Jorge Polanco, a 30-year-old switch hitter, will now be playing for the Seattle Mariners. The team has been actively seeking offensive reinforcements to complement their strong starting pitching.
Polanco has consistently been an above-average hitter throughout his 10-year MLB career. He has a slash line of .269/.334/.446 and was selected as an All-Star in 2019.
With his skill set, Polanco is expected to slot into the middle of the Mariners' batting order alongside other key players such as Julio Rodriguez, J.P. Crawford, Cal Raleigh, Ty France, Mitch Garver, and Mitch Haniger.
Twins Look to Shed Payroll
The Minnesota Twins have been focused on reducing payroll this offseason, even after winning the American League Central last year.
In addition to trading away Polanco, the Twins have lost key players such as Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Mahle, and Emilio Pagan in free agency. They have prioritized trimming expenses while making minimal additions to the roster.
The trade with the Mariners is part of the Twins' strategy to free up payroll and acquire younger talent. They see potential in outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez, who is considered a borderline top-100 prospect.
