MLB Offseason Roundup: Mariners Acquire Polanco in Five-Player Trade

This is one in a series of daily articles highlighting the latest news and notes from the MLB offseason.

The Seattle Mariners made a splash on Monday, acquiring infielder Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for four players.

Polanco had spent his entire 10-year career with the Twins and carries a .269/.334/.446 slash in 832 games played. He was named an All-Star in 2019.

Injuries limited Polanco to just 80 games this past season, but he managed to be productive while on the field. The 30-year-old posted a .789 OPS with 18 doubles, 14 home runs and 48 RBIs while playing solid defense at his natural second base position.

The Mariners needed an infield upgrade and got one in Polanco, but the deal didn’t come without a cost.

Seattle sent right-handed pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa along with outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez and pitching prospect Darren Bowen. The Twins also received cash considerations from the Mariners to help facilitate the trade.

DeSclafani gives Minnesota a rotation option while Topa looks slotted into a bullpen role. Gonzalez, meanwhile, checked in as MLB Pipeline’s No. 79 prospect on the recent update to their top 100 list. Bowen, a 13th-round pick in 2022, pitched well in A-ball last season.

HICKS TO HALOS

The Los Angeles Angels made an addition to their outfield mix this MLB offseason as they’ve signed veteran Aaron Hicks. The Angels will pay Hicks the minimum as the New York Yankees are on the hook for the rest of his salary.

Hicks struggled with the Yankees to begin the 2023 season, which led to his release in May. A few days later, he was scooped up by the Baltimore Orioles, where he thrived.

In 65 games with Baltimore. the 34-year-old slashed .275/.381/.425 with 15 extra-base hits, 31 RBIs and six steals in six attempts. All-in-all, Hicks registered a 129 wRC+ after he joined the Orioles.

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