MLB Rumors: Astros Eye Jorge Polanco in Free Agency amid Alex Bregman Contract Talks
January 27, 2025
As the Houston Astros work to re-sign Alex Bregman, they are also showing "strong interest" in other options, including veteran infielder Jorge Polanco, sources told The Athletic's Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal.
The Astros are reportedly favoring Polanco as a signing target, with no significant progress being made in negotiations to re-sign Bregman.
After the Astros traded Ryan Pressly to shed the majority of his $14 million contract, Bregman's decision remains uncertain, with five other teams reportedly still in the mix for his services.
Enter Polanco, the versatile Swiss Army knife infielder who has played shortstop, second base and third base since entering the league. The Astros are reportedly eyeing him for a potential move to left field should he sign, per Rome and Rosenthal.
The infielder's switch-hitting ability would also bring balance to the Astros' heavily right-handed lineup.
Polanco spent his first 10 MLB seasons with the Minnesota Twins, where he posted a .269 batting average with 447 RBI and 112 home runs. In his lone season with the Seattle Mariners, he recorded a .213 batting average with 45 RBI and 16 home runs over 118 games.
The Mariners wrapped up last season with an 85-77 record, finishing second in the AL West. However, they opted to decline Polanco's $12 million option, instead choosing a $750,000 buyout that made him a free agent.
The 31-year-old battled knee issues for much of last season, which significantly impacted his production, particularly from the left side of the plate, resulting in a career-low .651 OPS. His playing time also took a hit as a result. However, Polanco showed signs of improvement after the 2024 All-Star Break, boosting his OPS to .724 and hitting 11 of his 16 home runs over the final 63 games, per MLB.com's Daniel Kramer.
Polanco underwent left knee surgery in October to resolve the problem. According to his orthopedic surgeon, Polanco is expected to be "100 percent and fully recovered" by the start of the season, with "no restrictions during spring training," per Rome and Rosenthal.