Jorge Polanco re-signing with Mariners as Astros’ Alex Bregman replacement options dwindle

Jorge Polanco is staying in Seattle. 

The veteran infielder signed a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2026 with the Mariners on Thursday, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman. 

The deal will pay Polanco $7 million for the 2025 season with a $750,000 buyout on the 2026 option, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported. 

Polanco was traded to the Mariners from the Twins last January, hitting just .213/.296/.355 with 16 home runs across 118 games in one of the worst full seasons of his big league career. 

The 31-year-old Dominican Republic native is expected to play third base for Seattle this season, according to the MLB.com report. 

Before his 2024 struggles, the switch-hitting Polanco was one of the more consistent infielders offensively in baseball over the past half-decade, hitting 99 home runs in the five seasons prior, including an All-Star appearance and a few down-ballot American League MVP votes during a career-year in 2019.

Polanco underwent surgery on his left knee this offseason after dealing with persistent leg problems that limited him to 302 games over the past three seasons.

Before re-upping with the Mariners, the Astros showed interest in bringing Polanco in to play hot corner, replacing two-time All-Star Alex Bregman, who is locked into a stalemate with Houston over a possible deal. 

The Mariners went 85-77 in 2024, finishing above .500 but outside the AL playoff picture for the second straight season. 

Seattle is hoping to get more out of Polanco’s bat in 2025 after he finished with the ninth-worst OPS (.687) in baseball. 

Seattle has made the postseason just once (2022) since 2001.