How Mariners can recover from Jorge Polanco's defection to Mets

After a pursuit that lasted a month and a half, the Mariners finally saw Jorge Polanco slip from their grasp on Saturday. He originally declined his $6 million player option to pursue bigger money in free agency and now that he has signed a $40 million contract with the Mets, it seems like betting on himself paid off.

To Seattle's credit, they were in it until the very end and the value of his new contract does seem a little steep for a player who had very different seasons over the past two years. Time will tell whether the front office made the right choice in standing firm on their lower asking price but regardless of how it plays out, they'll still need to come up with a plan for second base next season.

With a weak free agent class, Seattle should instead rely on their in-house options at second base in 2026

Polanco is the first second base free agent to come off the board, and for good reason — the rest of the options are lukewarm at best. The name that stands out the most is Luis Arráez and he could be signed as a first or second baseman. He's an incredibly unique player who is a defensive liability no matter where he goes but lacks the on-base and power abilities to be a true first baseman. Because his only upside is his bat-to-ball proficiency, MLB Trade Rumors projected him to receive a modest contract around $24 million over two years.

The other players on the market are even less alluring. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Adam Frazier, Thairo Estrada, and Brendan Rodgers are hardly names to get excited about for a team with postseason aspirations. The Mariners could swing a trade to fill the position, but is there a way around this issue that wouldn't involve giving up prospect equity?

As it stands, the team has a handful of in-house options they could rely on. Leo Rivas was great over the 48 games he played this year, posting a 121 wRC+ while being roughly league-average in the field. Like Polanco, he's a switch hitter but unlike Polanco, he hasn't demonstrated an ability to reliably hit for power at the big league level. He had a few hero moments last season but over the course of 162 games, the team might need a little more from him.

Further down the depth chart is Miles Mastrobuoni. More of a utility man than a pure second baseman, he could fill a role similar to the one held by Dylan Moore, serving as a stopgap wherever needed. It's good in theory but in practice, he's more of a replacement-level player no matter where he plays.

The most likely candidate to step into the full-time job is Cole Young, who was supposed to take over the starting spot anyway. He was the organization's top prospect in 2024 and the No. 37-ranked overall prospect in MLB before his rookie year in 2025. He left a lot to be desired this season, posting a 80 wRC+ with -.3 fWAR but at just 22 years old, there's plenty of room to grow. He demonstrated good plate discipline and made good swing decisions but needs to lean more into the hit tool that endeared him to scouts in the first place.

So unless the front office wants to surrender their farm system for a marquee player, Seattle will have to work with they have. On the bright side, what they have is quite a bit as long as the organization gives the seeds they've sowed some time to blossom.