The Seattle Mariners are shaking things up with a new acquisition, snagging second baseman Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins in a multi-player trade. CBS News Minnesota reports the Mariners handed over pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa along with a pair of minor leaguers, and some cash to make the deal happen.
Polanco, who pocketed a .255 batting average and cracked 14 homers last season, is a welcome addition to the Mariners' lineup, particularly after making a robust comeback from a knee injury. Trimming payroll was on the Twins' agenda following a plunge in regional broadcast revenue, thus making Polanco's $10.5 million salary an expensive luxury, hence, his trade. Meanwhile, Seattle gets an All-Star with a proven track record when he's off the disabled list. According to MPR News, Seattle general manager Justin Hollander said they conducted "a very thorough medical review," confident in Polanco's resilient work ethic.
On the flip side, the Twins are banking on DeSclafani to rebound from an injury-laced run and fortify their rotation. "We like this guy's stuff. We think he has the ability to pitch really anywhere in the rotation," Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told MPR News. DeSclafani, who's in the last year of a $36 million, three-year contract, will earn $12 million this season, while the versatile Topa, who posted a stellar 2.61 ERA last season, is expected to beef up Minnesota's bullpen.
The trade also sees the departure of one of Mariners' top prospects, Gabriel Gonzalez, after he impressed with a .298 average, 18 home runs, and 84 RBIs in the minors. Josh Rojas, previously projected as Seattle's primary second baseman, now finds his spot at second base in jeopardy, likely to be shifted into a utility role, as Polanco takes the keystone position. On that note, Mariners fans watch with bated breath, hoping that the Polanco pickup spells the end of their playoff drought, and maybe, just maybe, charts a course to the World Series.
