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SEATTLE — After a number of seasons of asking and arising quick, the Seattle Mariners lastly discovered a commerce bundle that labored to land Jorge Polanco.
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The Mariners acquired Polanco from the Minnesota Twins on Monday for pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa, two minor leaguers and money.
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“I believe I personally made extra calls on this commerce than I ever have on any commerce earlier than on the behest of each my very own need to add him, and our group,” Seattle normal supervisor Justin Hollander stated.
The deal might assist each groups. Seattle provides a confirmed switch-hitter to its lineup, and a wholesome Polanco ought to present an improve at second base.
The Twins get a standout reliever in Topa, a viable starter in DeSclafani and certainly one of Seattle’s prime prospects in outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez. Minor league pitcher Darren Brown can be going to Minnesota.
The 33-year-old DeSclafani was traded to the Mariners earlier this month from San Francisco. He had a 4.88 ERA for the Giants final season whereas making 18 begins.
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The appropriate-handed Topa had a 2.61 ERA in 75 reduction appearances as a rookie for the Mariners in 2023.
The 30-year-old Polanco grew to become expendable with the emergence final season of rookie Edouard Julien for the Twins, who’re trimming their club-record payroll from 2023 in mild of the uncertainty round their regional broadcast income. Polanco will make $10.5 million this season, and his contract has a $12 million membership possibility for 2025 with a $750,000 buyout.
Polanco got here again from a knee damage to hit .255 with 14 residence runs and a .789 OPS in 80 video games for the Twins in 2023 whereas enjoying some second base and transferring to 3rd base to accommodate Julien. Polanco has essentially the most residence runs (112) by a switch-hitter in Twins historical past.
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Polanco signed with the Twins out of the Dominican Republic in 2009, made his main league debut in 2014, grew to become their common shortstop in 2016 and in the end moved to second base in 2021. Ankle and knee issues restricted him in recent times, however when he stayed wholesome he thrived on the plate. Polanco made the AL All-Star group in 2019 whereas hitting a career-high .295 in 153 video games. In 2021, he hit 33 homers with 98 RBIs — each profession highs — in 152 video games.
He’s a .269 profession hitter with a .780 OPS in 832 video games.
“We did a really thorough medical evaluation. I believe we perceive what the accidents have been,” Hollander stated. “One of many issues that’s vital to us and was vital to our coaching employees is knowing what sort of employee (Polanco) is and all of our suggestions was that he works as onerous as anyone.”
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Seattle was set to enter the season with Josh Rojas as its doubtless main second baseman after he was acquired final summer time from Arizona. Rojas hit .272 in 46 video games on the plate and made 38 begins at second base after coming to the Mariners.
Rojas and Dylan Moore will doubtless slot into utility roles off Seattle’s bench.
DeSclafani was considered an possibility on the again finish of Seattle’s rotation for the upcoming season. He’s made simply 23 begins mixed the previous two seasons after having a career-best yr in 2021 when he went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 31 begins for San Francisco.
The appropriate-hander makes $12 million this yr within the ultimate season of a $36 million, three-year deal.
DeSclafani has had loads of damage issues over his 10-year main league profession, together with an elbow pressure that sidelined him final summer time. He informed Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey after the commerce that his arm has been feeling good this winter.
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“We like this man’s stuff. We predict he has the flexibility to pitch actually wherever within the rotation,” Falvey stated. “When he’s been wholesome, he’s been a very good pitcher. We’ve simply bought to maintain him wholesome.”
DeSclafani will present worthwhile rotation depth for the Twins, who misplaced Sonny Grey, Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle in free company. DeSclafani and Louie Varland will each undergo spring coaching as starters, Falvey stated, earlier than the membership decides on who the No. 5 starter is. Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Chris Paddack are slotted within the first 4 spots.
The lack of Topa can be a success to the Mariners as he was certainly one of their most constant arms out of the bullpen. Topa struck out 61 batters in 69 innings and had a stretch of two months final summer time wherein he allowed one earned run over 27 appearances.
Gonzalez was thought to be one of many prime prospects within the Mariners group after hitting a mixed .298 with 18 homers and 84 RBIs for 2 Class-A golf equipment final season at age 19.
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