Jorge Polanco could cost the Mariners even if they don't want to keep him

After making headlines for his statistically anomalous start to the season, the Jorge Polanco news cycle has calmed down quite a bit. He went from a 1.226 OPS in April/March to a .413 OPS in May and his cumulative offensive production for the season has averaged out to be decent with a 114 OPS+.

Still, he hasn't done much else, good or bad, and while no news is usually good news, it seems that his biggest story is still brewing.

If Jorge Polanco exercises his impending vesting option, it could put a strain on Seattle's finances

In a recent article going over players with vesting provisions in their contracts, Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors surfaced the current clause in Polanco's deal with Seattle: an $8 million mutual option that converts to a $6 million player option at 450 plate appearances and $8 million player option at 550 plate appearances. With 399 plate appearances already under his belt, Polanco likely won't be able to cross the latter threshold but will comfortably eclipse the lesser target of 450.

Depending on how this goes, this seemingly forgotten piece of an already underwhelming offseason signing could have significant effects on Seattle's offseason plans. A $6 million salary isn't too shabby for Polanco, especially given how inconsistent he has been at the plate this year. Additionally, he has been relegated to more of a platoon role against right-handed pitching. Both of these factors make testing the free agent waters risky, which could incentivize him to take the guaranteed money and try again in 2027.

While higher-paying organizations would hardly notice $6 million, the Mariners still have a tight enough budget for that money to be impactful. If Polanco does exercise his option, it'll be less money than usual for the front office to spend on arbitration salaries and free agents.

Luckily, there are a few things that will help provide some breathing room. This is the final year of Mitch Haniger's contract, which will clear up $15.5 million for next year. Mitch Garver's $12 million mutual option for 2026 will almost certainly become a $1 million buyout instead. It's hardly enough to go for a really juicy free agent, but it could net the Mariners some depth in the short- and medium-term.

Of course, if the team was feeling particularly inhumane, they could always emulate the Pirates' actions towards former Mariner Rowdy Tellez and simply do whatever they can to make sure Polanco doesn't reach the necessary threshold to vest his player option. But that would be wildly out of character. Despite their frugal reputation, the Mariners haven't been known to resort to shady tactics. Furthermore, they tend to do their best when Polanco is productive as he's still one of their best options at designated hitter.

With so many recent changes to the active roster and the team hitting a real skid at the worst time, it seems a little premature to start thinking about financial problems that can ultimately wait until the offseason. However, that 450 plate appearance mark is quickly approaching and whether the team likes it or not, how they handle it could shape their offseason before it even begins.