Wednesday, September 10

SEATTLE -- Jorge Polanco’s biggest at-bat of the weekend was the golf hack he took during the Mariners’ 18-2 rout at Truist Park on Sunday, when connecting on a changeup from Braves left-hander Joey Wentz in a 2-2 count and sending it sailing to just narrowly to the right of the left-field foul pole. 

It was a uniquely impressive enough of a swing that the visiting bullpen -- directly next to where the ball landed -- erupted in surprise.  

“I hit it really good and I knew it had a chance,” Polanco said. “I didn’t know that it would go out.”

While that was the highlight of a productive road trip, it was actually Polanco’s final plate appearance in Saturday’s win that carried more significance -- at least individually. It was his 450th of the season, which triggered a vesting player option worth $6 million for next season. 

Essentially, Polanco -- who was limited mightily with a left knee injury during his first season in Seattle -- gained clarity on his outlook for 2026 and the financial security that now comes with it, if he indeed exercises the option. The Mariners also carry a $750,000 buyout on that option.

“That was my main focus during the offseason, just like trying to stay healthy,” Polanco said. “And it's really motivated me to do it. I just feel really good.”

Polanco can earn even more if he reaches 550 plate appearances, which would elevate the player option’s value to $8 million. He also received a $500,000 bonus at 450 and will receive increments of that figure at 500 and 550 as well. 

Polanco signed a one-year, $7.75 million deal in January to return to Seattle, three months removed from surgery to repair the patellar tendon in the knee that was troublesome enough throughout 2024 that it limited his production. So the incentives within this year’s deal were naturally based on volume. 

“It’s really big for me, really big,” he said. “The last couple of years, I haven’t been able to get that many plate appearances. I feel really good. I feel really happy to just come back this year and be more healthy and play in more games.”

Polanco’s homer on Sunday was his 24th, his second-most in a single season over his 12-year career behind the 33 he crushed in 2021 with Minnesota. 

Nine of those were in March/April, before he experienced some regression mid-summer. Yet since the All-Star break, Polanco has quietly been one of the Mariners’ most productive hitters, entering the week trailing only Julio Rodríguez in slugging percentage (.489) OPS (.833) and wRC+ (135, where MLB average is 100) while ranking tied for third on the team in homers and FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (0.9).

For the entire season, Polanco entered Monday slashing .258/.323/.479 (.802 OPS).

“He’s been swinging it so well from both sides,” manager Dan Wilson said. “He does give you a lot of flexibility in the infield. He’s been such a big part of this offense.”

Speaking of infield flexibility, Polanco began working out at first base with Mariners infield coach Perry Hill over the weekend to give Wilson more late-innings options with his bench. 

“He just makes everybody feel comfortable at any position,” Polanco said. “He’s just a great coach. We all know it. I felt really good there, hopefully, I get more reps over there.”

It’s unlikely that Polanco will make starts at the position, but the club would like to have the option of using him there, depending on what other players he deploys as a game progresses.

Polanco had been exclusively limited to the designated hitter role early in the year, even as he was raking, in separate efforts to protect his knee and allow him to work through a side issue. But he’s been able to play 15 games at second base since the All-Star break.

The Mariners don’t need Polanco to recapture his early-season magic, but the more consistent -- and productive -- version that he’s been over recent weeks would go a long way towards the club realizing its offensive potential in this playoff push.

Julio Rodríguez is one of just three players in history with at least 25 homers and 25 stolen bases within their first four career seasons. Who of the two was the first?

A) Barry Bonds

B) Bobby Bonds

C) Darryl Strawberry

D) Mike Trout

General manager Justin Hollander offered the latest on Mariners on the mend to reporters on Monday:

• 2B Ryan Bliss (right meniscus tear) suffered a separate injury from the left biceps tear that he was rehabbing with at Triple-A Tacoma. The latest issue took place over the weekend and will end his season. 
  
  
• RHP Gregory Santos (right knee surgery) was slated to pitch in another rehab assignment on Monday for Triple-A Tacoma, with a target of four to six innings to ensure he holds his velocity and maintains command.  
  
  
• RHP Logan Evans (right elbow inflammation) threw a bullpen session on Monday and will have another on Friday, with the target of beginning a rehab assignment next week. Evans won’t be stretched out enough in time by the end of the season, but it’s possible he could be available in a smaller-workload role.
  
  
• RHP Jackson Kowar (right shoulder impingement) underwent an MRI exam that came back clean, but he’s still dealing with tightness.

Eugenio Suárez, on process leading to results, even amidst the Mariners’ 1-6 start to their recent road trip:

“When you get the good results, it's because you're doing something good. That's why you're working hard. That's why you prepare yourself, to get results. It's different to chase results. We’re not chasing results. You go there and do your best, and the result is going to be there at some point.”

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B. Bobby Bonds

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