The Seattle Mariners made an early splash this offseason by locking in Josh Naylor on a five-year, $92.5 million deal. That move set the tone and, for many around the league, signaled what was coming next: a reunion with Jorge Polanco.
It made sense. It still does.
But as December rolls in, that next domino hasn’t fallen-and there’s growing reason to believe it might not.
Let’s be clear: the Mariners want Polanco back. That much hasn’t changed.
He’s a natural fit-versatile defensively, capable of playing second base or slotting in at DH, and he brings a switch-hitting bat that was a difference-maker in 2025. His 134 OPS+ was the best of his career, and he didn’t just pad stats in the regular season-he delivered when it mattered most.
Before October even began, he was already among the league’s most clutch hitters. Then he went out and walked off the Astros in the 15th inning to send Seattle to the ALCS.
That’s the kind of moment that lives in franchise highlight reels for years.
So, yes, the desire is mutual. According to recent reports, Polanco is believed to prefer a return to Seattle.
But here’s the kicker: the two sides aren’t close. Not yet, anyway.
Polanco is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal, and he’s drawing serious interest outside the Pacific Northwest. The Red Sox and Yankees are in the mix-no surprise there-and even the Pirates, a small-market club known to be aggressive this winter, have been linked to him.
That’s not just noise. It’s a sign that Polanco’s market is heating up, and the Mariners may not be able to wait this one out.
The tricky part for Seattle is timing. When they inked Naylor, the market was still shaking out.
Since then, we’ve seen a player-friendly shift. Dylan Cease, Ryan Helsley, and Cody Ponce all beat their projected deals.
Devin Williams matched his expected AAV. It’s clear that players are getting paid-and that could push Polanco’s price tag beyond what Seattle initially hoped.
One projection had Polanco landing a three-year, $42 million deal-$14 million per year. That felt like a bargain even then, considering his postseason heroics and his strong 2025 campaign. Now, with the market trending upward and no qualifying offer attached to him, that number might climb to $45 million or more over three years.
That’s not an outrageous jump, but for the Mariners, every dollar counts. They reportedly began the offseason with a $30-35 million budget for new salaries.
Naylor’s deal already takes a big bite out of that. Adding Polanco at market rate could leave little room for other upgrades-especially in the bullpen, where they still have needs.
If Seattle can’t bring Polanco back, they won’t be out of options, but none of them come without risk. Trade candidates like Brendan Donovan, Ketel Marte, and Brandon Lowe are out there. Internally, they could turn to top prospect Cole Young at second base or give Colt Emerson a shot at third if he and Ben Williamson shine in spring training.
But let’s not kid ourselves: none of those scenarios offer the certainty Polanco does. He’s a proven commodity in this lineup, a postseason performer, and a clubhouse presence.
That’s hard to replace. And while the Mariners have done well to manage their budget so far-Naylor’s deal was widely seen as team-friendly-they’re now staring down a tougher decision.
Do they stretch the payroll to bring back a known difference-maker? Or do they pivot and hope one of the alternative paths pans out?
For now, the wait continues. But with the market moving and other teams circling, the Mariners may need to act sooner rather than later if they want to keep Polanco in Seattle.