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Former Seattle Mariners third baseman Josh Rojas was dealt a tough blow Monday morning. He was diagnosed with a broken toe during spring training with the Chicago White Sox, putting his Opening Day status in doubt.
In 2024, Rojas was a key defender for the Mariners at third base and one of the best in the league, getting snubbed from the AL Gold Glove finalists. His glove work helped solidify the infield, one that dealt with a number of injuries throughout the year, making him one of Seattle’s most valuable defenders.
Josh Rojas, barehand specialist.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) June 2, 2024
He gets off a throw just 72.2 mph, but the one-hopper is in time to beat Zach Neto, who was racing with a 28.8 ft/sec sprint speed and reached first base in 3.92 seconds, his fastest home-to-first time this season. pic.twitter.com/fkCqCRLhtd
Rojas also started the season strong at the plate, providing a spark for a struggling Mariners offense. His early contributions kept the team competitive during a time when guys like Julio Rodriguez, Mitch Garver and Jorge Polanco weren’t producing.
The Mariners made the right call with Josh Rojas
However, as the season went on, Rojas’s offense dipped. He finished the year hitting .225 with just eight home runs and 31 RBIs. Because of his struggles at the plate, the Mariners decided to non-tender him in the offseason, making him a free agent and leading to his decision to join the White Sox.
With Rojas gone, Seattle re-signed Polanco to a one-year, $7.75 million deal and moved him from second to third base. Polanco had knee surgery in October 2024 but is now fully healthy. While he had only played 24 career games at third before this move, he has said he feels more comfortable during spring training.
This switch could turn out to be a great decision. Polanco has a strong offensive track record, with multiple seasons hitting above .280 and producing double-digit home runs. If he stays healthy, he could give the Mariners the consistent bat they lacked in 2024.
Defensively, he has adjusted well to third base, showing he can handle the position. Ryan Bliss looks like he will take the everyday second base job, providing quite a bit more upside than Rojas.
By replacing Rojas with Polanco, the Mariners hope to see a significant boost to the offense while sacrificing a little bit of defense. If Polanco continues to perform at third and stays healthy, this move could be a major boost for Seattle’s playoff hopes.