In the offseason, Polanco's career and health was at a crossroads, and he's found new life in his second go-around with the Mariners

DETROIT — At this point last year, Jorge Polanco's future was in question.

The 12th-year veteran infielder was coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. He scored 43 runs in 118 games with the Seattle Mariners and hit 11 doubles and 16 home runs with 45 RBIs and slashed .213/.296/.355 with a .651 OPS in 2024.

After the season, Polanco had his option declined by Seattle and underwent surgery to repair a damaged left patellar tendon.

Throughout the offseason, Polanco was rumored to be drawing interest from the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. Instead, Polanco opted to return to the Mariners on a one-year, $7.75 million contract with a vesting option for 2027.

"I really wanted to be back here," Polanco said in a pregame news conference Tuesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. "Going into the offseason, I honestly wanted to be back here — especially with the teammates when I played here last year. I thought this team was a special team. It's a special group. ... I just feel very grateful that I'm here with the guys."

Polanco's bet on himself paid off. This year, he scored 64 times across 138 games and hit 30 doubles and 26 homers with 78 RBIs. He ended the regular season with a slash line of 265/.326/.495 with an  .821 OPS. His vesting option, which was based on the amount of plate appearances he made, was activated and became a $6 million player option for 2027.

Polanco's bet extended into the postseason. Through two games in the American League Divisional Series against the Detroit Tigers, Polanco has hit .375 (3-for-8) with two runs, two home runs and two RBIs.

Both homers came in Seattle's 3-2 win against Detroit in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday. Both of the home runs were off defending American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

The Mariners, despite declining Polanco's option in 2024, knew the kind of player he could be when he was healthy. Before this year, the last time Polanco played at least 135 games in a single season was when he was with the Minnesota Twins in 2021. He slashed .269/.323/.503 with an .826 OPS that year and hit 33 home runs with 98 RBIs in 152 games played.

Seattle kept tabs on Polanco's rehab from his knee surgery before bringing him back. That gesture meant a lot to the 2019 All-Star.

"It felt great, to be honest," Polanco said. "Having the team that you play with, they know you got surgery, but to keep in touch — they wanted to know how I was doing and how I was feeling. It just gave me so much confidence going into my rehab. Gave me a lot of support and I really appreciate that."

This season hasn't always been smooth sailing for Polanco. The switch-hitting second baseman was limited to batting only left-handed and was used exclusively as the designated hitter due to an oblique strain toward the beginning of the season.

Polanco also had a torrid start to the year followed by a major downturn. In April, he slashed .379/.422/.862 with eight homers and 21 RBIs. In May, he slashed .139/.205/.208 with five home runs and five RBIs.

"I think it's (just) baseball," Polanco said. "It's a game of ups-and-downs. I think you have a really good month, then you have so-so months. ... Then you just got to make adjustments. This is a game of adjustments. The pitcher is going to make adjustments, you just got to keep working and got to trust it."

Polanco's resurgent season helped the Mariners win their first American League West championship since 2001. If that trend continues, Seattle could very will find itself en route to its first World Series appearance in franchise history.

First pitch for Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series is scheduled for 1:08 p.m. PT/4:08 p.m. PT at Comerica Park on Tuesday.

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