The Astros are focused on re-signing Alex Bregman but aren’t putting all of their eggs in that basket. They’ve been linked to Willy Adames — another likely nine-figure free agent — and have also checked in with a few contingency plans, including free agent Jorge Polanco, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Polanco, who’s coming off a down year in Seattle and underwent knee surgery in October, has typically been a middle infielder, first coming to the majors as a shortstop in Minnesota before moving over to second base due to defensive concerns. The 31-year-old does have a bit of experience at the hot corner, having logged a combined 180 innings there in two different seasons with the Twins (plus another 128 frames there as a minor leaguer). He played 103 innings at third base as recently as 2023 in Minnesota.
The 2024 season was a disaster for Polanco, who’s battled knee troubles for several seasons and saw those ongoing troubles culminate in offseason surgery. His lone year in Seattle produced a .213/.296/.355 slash in 118 games — a far cry from the combined .270/.338/.455 output Polanco posted in six years with the Twins from 2018-23. Polanco still cracked 16 home runs for the Mariners in 2024, but his strikeout rate spiked to a career-worst 29.2% and he posted some of the worst defensive grades of his career (-10 Outs Above Average).
Polanco underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee in early October. He’d previously had IL stints for that same knee in both 2023 and 2022, missing about seven weeks of action combined between the two instances. Given the recent knee struggles and ugly results in 2024, Polanco is likely ticketed for a one-year deal. At the very least, he’d be an affordable alternative to Bregman/Adames who could allow the ’Stros to perhaps spend elsewhere.
At this stage of his career, however, asking Polanco to hold down third base regularly feels like a stretch. He’ll turn 32 next July, is coming off that knee surgery and already ranks poorly in terms of arm strength on his throws in the infield, per Statcast. While throws from second base and third base can’t simply be compared in apples-to-apples fashion — throws from third base are inherently going to come in at a higher velocity — Polanco is well below average even when compared strictly to other second basemen; his average velocity ranked 48th among the 63 players who made at least 100 throws as a second baseman in 2024. Perhaps a healthier lower half will lead to better life on his throws moving forward, but the recent trends don’t bode well for a move to third base.
That said, it’s a pretty thin market at the hot corner this offseason — at least in free agency. Bregman is the clear top option, though some teams might prefer Adames, who’s reportedly willing to move off shortstop in the right setting. Virtually everyone beyond Bregman and Adames falls into the rebound candidate bucket, with Polanco joining names like Josh Rojas, Gio Urshela, Yoan Moncada, Brandon Drury and Luis Urias (among others). The trade market includes Alec Bohm and the pricier Nolan Arenado, to name a couple of the most prominent candidates.
Depending on the prowler cost, I think it’s rather trade for Arenado on his remaining 3/$64 net than what Bregman/Boras will likely hold out for.
I meant “prospect cost”.
The Astros considering injury-riddled Jorge Polanco as a backup plan at third base highlights how dire the hot corner market has become, but relying on a player with declining defensive metrics and a surgically repaired knee to fill Bregman’s shoes feels like a gamble doomed to fail.
That’s quite a fallback. Emphasis on the “back.”
I’d be fine if mariners brought him back for $5-6M if they pony up and make a trade for a solid 3B
I’d be OK with that too
My understanding is that Polanco is a terrible defender at 3b. And that his knee is going to limit his athleticism for at least the first half of the year.
That being said. The Mariners a cursed. He probably makes the ASG as an Astro…
Polanco is past his prime, but I think he could be a decent 105-110 OPS+ guy with around 15 homers, and a .240-.250 AVG guy as well.
He’s not a good defender, so I would take him as a DH.
I would say he’s worth around 6-7mil.
He could be very good, I would watch out for him next season.
Honestly, with the talent pool spread so thin across the league, wouldn’t it make more sense to reduce the number of teams? It feels like the quality of play is being diluted, and the game could benefit from concentrating talent at fewer positions.
The “game” is a business. The more teams the more money the business makes.
@Seamaholic
Sure, more teams mean more money for the owners, but let’s not confuse business with the actual game. The integrity of the sport shouldn’t be sacrificed just to line pockets. If the talent pool is diluted, fans are the ones who ultimately suffer with watered-down competition. Quality should always come before quantity, especially when it comes to maintaining the essence of the sport.
MLBPA would never let contraction happen either. More jobs. If anything there will be expansion.
@AgitatedPassenger
Of course, the MLBPA would never consider something as logical as contraction—it’s all about job preservation at the expense of quality. But the real question is: why are we so committed to quantity over quality? Expanding the league just increases the dilution of talent, and expanding a flawed system won’t fix its inherent problems. The league doesn’t need more teams; it needs better standards.
I see no evidence of dilution of talent. A weak 3B market, and your say so, does not equal an issue.
Why even bother? It’s not as if any of Polanco’s numbers are hinting at anything close to a rebound, particularly the strikeout rate.
If the Astros want to go cheap then why not look at Berti and Rojas? Both would provide an extra win at half the cost or less.
If Polanco does well for another team this upcoming year…man…I wish him well, I really do. But 2024 was a disastrous year for the Mariners, and so far this offseason has continued that trend so far. Also, why hasn’t MLBTR announced Drew Pomeranz signing with the Mariners on a minor league deal? That’s huge news, cause he’s still good! Pitching depth, that’s what the Mariners need lol, jeez, sorry I can’t hold a straight face. The Mariners aren’t cursed, but they are stupid. 2024 was a horrible showcase that put even more bad feelings upon TMobile park as a place hitters go to die, and made it less likely that an even decent free agent would ever sign with us, and make hitters cringe at the thought of being traded to the M’s. We should simply build our infield from within, stop doing these platoons, eventually tell Young and Emerson and whomever else, hey this is your position, your job, just be you, and whatever happens happens. And then, eventually put Montes in the outfield. I smell Bregman, Altuve, Alvarez all over these three. If anyone could be traded, it’s Harry Ford, although he can play outfield. Luke Raley can stay at first, and Crawford at SS. Then if Crawford has a bad season, bring up that Celesten guy. Easy peasy. Then keep our pitching staff in tact, and stop giving away quality bullpen arms, and we’re good to go by 26 or 27.
If the team did this I expect it would be adding Polanco as a veteran piece as an option while seeing if Matthews can handle taking over 3B.