Polanco Exit Reshapes Seattle Mariners’ Offseason Strategy

The New York Mets stunned much of the baseball world by landing infielder Jorge Polanco on a two-year, $40 million contract. That figure soared far above what most people expected and forced the Seattle Mariners to scramble and rethink their offseason plans.

This move came after the Mets lost Pete Alonso and needed to find a way to replace his offensive punch. Suddenly, the infield market shifted, and Seattle found themselves deciding whether to trade prospects, stretch their payroll, or just wait it out until midseason.

Jorge Polanco’s Contract Shocks the Market

Two years, $40 million for Jorge Polanco. Around the league, reactions ranged from disbelief to grudging respect.

Plenty of evaluators thought Polanco would get $12–15 million per year, maybe a bit more if things got wild. Even ESPN’s Jeff Passan guessed he’d land around $14–17 million annually, but the Mets just blew right past that.

Clearly, the Mets felt some urgency. They must really believe Polanco’s worth it for the next two seasons.

Why the Mets Paid a Premium for Polanco

The Mets didn’t just throw cash at a name. Polanco’s strong 2025 season—remember that .821 OPS—reminded everyone what he can do when he’s healthy.

Getting that kind of production from an infielder isn’t easy these days. For a team trying to hang in the NL East, it’s a big deal.

Polanco brings more than just a bat. He can play multiple infield spots, which gives the Mets some much-needed lineup flexibility and insurance if someone else gets hurt.

After losing Pete Alonso to the Orioles, the Mets needed stability. Polanco might not have Alonso’s raw power, but his on-base skills, gap pop, and switch-hitting give the lineup some balance.

Mariners Miss Out and Regroup

Meanwhile, over in Seattle, the Mariners watched one of their top targets slip away. Polanco was supposed to be a key offseason get who could lengthen the lineup and solidify the infield.

Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners’ baseball boss, admitted the market got aggressive fast. Once multiple teams started bidding, Seattle decided not to chase the Mets’ offer.

Trade Market Targets: Donovan and Marte

Now that Polanco’s gone, the Mariners are looking at trades. Two names keep popping up:

But there’s a catch. The Cardinals hold all the cards with Donovan, thanks to his contract and years of control, so he won’t come cheap—think premium prospects. Marte’s a different story; his no-trade rights make things tricky for Arizona and muddy his market value.

Free-Agent Options and Short-Term Fixes

If trades get too expensive, maybe Seattle circles back to free agency. The top of the market’s basically out of reach, though.

Alex Bregman? That’s a long shot for the Mariners, both in terms of money and competition.

Eugenio Suárez feels more realistic. He’s a familiar face and could fill in at third or offer some power for a year or two.

Sure, he doesn’t have Polanco’s OPS or contact numbers lately, but he brings experience and some pop. For a team not wanting to blow up the farm system, he’s not a bad option.

Stopgap Infielders Still on the Board

After Suárez, the rest of the infield market looks pretty thin—mostly stopgaps, not game-changers:

These players could help the Mariners avoid disaster, but none of them are the kind of move Seattle hoped to make with Polanco.

Seattle’s Offseason Crossroads

With Polanco heading to New York, the Mariners now face a real crossroads. They’ve got three clear paths, and none of them are risk-free.

Prospects, Payroll, or Patience?

Seattle’s front office faces a tricky decision. They’ve got three main paths on the table:

Polanco’s surprise $40 million deal with the Mets already shook up the infield market. That move could end up as the pivot point for the Mariners’ 2025 season—or even longer, honestly.

 
Here is the source article for this story: How Polanco’s departure impacts Seattle Mariners’ offseason