On Tuesday, in an article in The Athletic referencing the Seattle Mariners, the Boston Red Sox were listed as one of the team's interested in free agent Jorge Polanco this offseason.

Polanco, 32, still would fit nicely, serving mostly as a designated hitter to protect his health but also playing second on days the Mariners want to use Cal Raleigh at DH. But Polanco, according to major-league sources, wants to play out the market. The Boston Red Sox might want him if they lose third baseman Alex Bregman, the Toronto Blue Jays might if they lose Bo Bichette. And those are just two possibilities.

The Polanco file

A 12-year veteran of the Minnesota Twins and Mariners, Polanco is now 32 years old. He'll turn 33 in July of 2026. A lifetime .263 hitter, he is coming off an excellent season in which he hit .265 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs for Seattle. 

He carried a .326 on-base percentage, and he came up clutch in the playoffs, hitting two home runs off Tarik Skubal in the American League Division Series and providing five RBIs against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS.

He's a one-time All-Star who hit 33 homers for the Twins in 2021. A switch-hitter, he provides value from both sides of the plate.

Why a deal could make sense

Well, if the Red Sox do lose Bregman, there's a theoretical opening in the infield. Furthermore, because of his age, he likely won't cost much money.

Most reports have Polanco getting a two or three-year deal worth between $25-45 million. That's far less expensive than Bregman would be, and if money matters to Boston, this could be a swaying factor.

Why a deal doesn't make sense

This one is all about defense and positioning.

1) If Bregman leaves, the Red Sox have an opening at third base. The problem? Polanco started five games at third base for Seattle in 2025, and the experiment didn't work. 

On the other hand, Marcelo Mayer is a former top prospect who the Red Sox drafted No. 4 overall in 2021. He's younger, and a much better defender at this point than Polanco, especially at third. If Bregman isn't back, the job should go to him. And if you really want to go outside the organization, a natural third baseman would also be a better fit.

Expanding out, Polanco only started 39 games on defense period for the M's in 2025, as they elected to play him almost exclusively at designated hitter in the regular season. 

2) If Mayer moves to third base, then isn't Kristian Campbell the guy the Red Sox have to play at second? They've already given him a long-term contract extension. He has to play, doesn't he?

Even if Bregman is gone, second and third have easy, internal answers. Polanco isn't needed.

3) Polanco has one game of experience at first base in his career, so should the Sox really jettison Triston Casas for him there? Can't they just go after Pete Alonso if they want to upgrade the position?

4) And as for the designated hitter spot, the Red Sox already have outfielders - and Masataka Yoshida - that need to rotate through that spot. 

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