3 Mariners likely coming up on their final days with the team

1. 2B Jorge Polanco

What was supposed to be another big bat signing in the offseason has turned into the latest episode of Seattle's curse at second base. While he has been much better than Kolten Wong was in 2023, to say he has been disappointing might even be an understatement. His .630 OPS and 86 OPS+ are far below what he was expected to do and given his lack of overall defensive prowess with -4 DRS, he's not doing much to plead his case.

This is important because his contract carries a $12 million team option in 2025, something the Mariners likely won't exercise, even if his second-half numbers point to a step in the right direction. With payroll already at the upper end of management's spending appetite, every dollar matters, especially 12 million of them.

If they don't choose to pursue a bigger marquee second baseman in the offseason, Leo Rivas had some success at the major league level, albeit playing shortstop. His overall production would still be below league-average but his league-minimum salary would help free up money to be spent on other parts of the roster. The free agent pickings are slim with the most alluring names being Gleyber Torres and Brandon Lowe. Either way, if the front office is really as tight on their budget as has been recently reported, then letting Polanco hit free agency would fit their MO perfectly.