Postseason Mariners standout Jorge Polanco declined his player option for 2026 and will become a free agent, Seattle announced Wednesday.
Polanco passed on his $6 million option after having a big season that surely raised his worth on the open market. The Mariners will likely be interested in bringing him back for a third season with the club.
Polanco, 32, batted .265 with 26 homers and 78 RBIs in 138 games this season. The homers were the second most of his career and the RBI total ranks third.
In the postseason, Polanco had three homers and eight RBIs despite a .208 average in 12 games.
He smacked two homers in a Game 2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the American League wild-card series and then delivered the walk-off series-ending single in a 3-2 victory in the 15-inning Game 5.
In Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Polanco had two hits and two RBIs in a Seattle win. The next night, Polanco delivered a three-run homer to help the Mariners take a 2-0 series lead. The Mariners eventually lost the series in seven games.
Polanco has a .263 career average with 154 homers and 570 RBIs in 1,088 games with the Minnesota Twins (2014-23) and Mariners. He was an All-Star in 2019 for Minnesota.
Polanco is the fourth offensive player Seattle has lost to free agency. The others are first baseman Josh Naylor, third baseman Eugenio Suarez and catcher Mitch Garver.
Seattle also acquired right-hander Cole Wilcox from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. Wilcox was designated for assignment by the Rays on Nov. 3. The 26-year-old pitched one inning of relief for the Rays on Sept. 19 and gave up seven runs (three earned) against the Boston Red Sox.
