Second baseman Jorge Polanco, outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez, reliever Justin Topa, starter Anthony DeSclafani, and minor league pitcher Darren Bowen were sent to Seattle by the Minnesota Twins in a five-player trade on Monday.
The Twins are receiving cash considerations from the Mariners as well. Monday night, both teams made the announcement.
Polanco, a thirty-year-old switch hitter, comes onto a Mariners club that has been looking for bats to go along with its outstanding starting pitching all winter. In his ten-year big league career, Polanco has consistently hit well above league average, slashing.269/.334/.446. An All-Star in 2019, he will probably bat in the middle of the Mariners order, which also includes Ty France, Julio Rodriguez, J.P. Crawford, Cal Raleigh, and two offseason additions, Mitch Garver and Mitch Haniger.
Polanco’s contract has a $12 million club option for 2025, and the Twins exercised a $10.5 million option on him this winter.
Minnesota, which won the American League Central last season, has devoted a large portion of its summer to reducing salary. Sonny Grey, the AL Cy Young winner who came in second, was lost by the Twins to St. Louis via free agency. Along with reliever Emilio Pagan, starters Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda also departed in free agency. Prior to the agreement, Minnesota had only signed reliever Josh Staumont for $950,000.
Gonzalez, 20, is Minnesota’s main player in this deal. This right-handed hitting corner outfielder played in both Single-A and High-A leagues last season, excelling in the former (.348/.403/.530) but faltering in 181 at-bats in the latter (.215/.290/.387). Having bat-to-ball skills, he is a prospect who is on the verge of being ranked in the top 100.
Topa, 32, was the most recent reliever to succeed in the major leagues with Seattle. In 75 games last season, he recorded a 2.61 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 18 walks in 69 innings, and a stellar 56.5% career ground ball percentage.
Previously, DeSclafani was dealt with Haniger in a transaction that sent former Cy Young champion Robbie Ray to San Francisco. DeSclafani’s $12 million salary will be partially covered by Seattle transferring cash to Minnesota. Last season, despite missing the last two months due to a flexor strain in his right elbow, DeSclafani recorded a 4.88 ERA in 99⅔ innings.
The 23-year-old Bowen was selected in the 13th round out of UNC-Pembroke in 2022. In his first minor league season, he threw 55⅔ innings with a 3.88 ERA.