Is Jorge Polanco the steady bat the White Sox need — or just the wrong fit at the wrong time?
Saturday night will mark Game 7 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. That means just five days later — by the end of the day Thursday — Major League Baseball free agency will officially open, and players will be free to sign with any team.
Before long, we’ll know how active the Chicago White Sox plan to be this winter and can begin to set realistic expectations for the 2026 season.
It’s anyone’s guess which direction the front office will take. The list of needs is long, but the mystery lies in which ones Chris Getz and company will choose to address externally versus those they hope to fill through internal development.
In his annual Top 50 MLB Free Agents column for The Athletic, insider Jim Bowden connected several teams to potential fits — and among those linked to Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco was Chicago. The Mariners, Astros, Rockies, and Giants were also mentioned as possibilities.
That raises an important question: Is Polanco actually a fit for the White Sox? What would he cost on the open market? And should fans realistically expect Chicago to be in the mix?
The Player
Polanco has never been known for his glove. He’s a below-average defender in the infield, but he’s long compensated for that with a consistently strong bat.
In 2021, while with the Minnesota Twins, Polanco blasted 33 home runs and drove in 98 runs as a middle infielder. He followed that up with another strong offensive season in 2025 with Seattle, hitting 26 home runs, 30 doubles, and finishing with an .821 OPS.
He’s had the occasional down year, often tied to lingering knee issues, but when healthy, Polanco remains a dangerous switch-hitting presence capable of anchoring a lineup. A career .442 slugging percentage and .771 OPS through 12 MLB seasons is impressive for a player who’s spent the bulk of his career up the middle.
At 32 years old, Polanco likely has another contract or two of productive baseball left. His postseason performance for Seattle this fall only strengthened the perception that he can still deliver in high-leverage moments.
The Contract
Polanco holds a $6 million player option for 2026, which he must decide on by the start of free agency. Given the season he just had, it would be surprising if he didn’t decline the option to test the market.
Spotrac projects his market value at three years, $43 million (roughly $14.3 million AAV), while Bowden estimated a slightly shorter two-year, $26 million deal. Either structure is manageable from a payroll standpoint, but the length of the contract may be the real sticking point for a team like Chicago.
The White Sox already have several infielders approaching their mid-30s, and committing multiple years to Polanco might not align with their developmental timeline.
The Fit
This is where things get tricky. On paper, Polanco’s bat would instantly make the White Sox better, but the positional and organizational fit feels awkward.
Bringing him aboard would likely take at-bats away from Chase Meidroth and block some of the club’s emerging prospects. Moving Polanco to third base isn’t ideal either — his defensive metrics are worse there than those of Miguel Vargas, and there’s no guarantee his offensive upgrade would offset the defensive loss.
Chicago might be better off continuing to develop Vargas and allocating $13–15 million of payroll elsewhere — potentially toward pitching depth or a more impactful middle-of-the-order bat.
The White Sox could use a designated hitter, but with Edgar Quero expected to rotate through that spot when both he and Kyle Teel are in the lineup, the fit for Polanco is further complicated. If the front office does decide to spend on a DH, it would make more sense to pursue a true power bat capable of 35+ home runs rather than a second baseman in his 30s.
The Verdict
There’s plenty to like about Jorge Polanco the player, but his timeline and positional overlap make this a poor match for a rebuilding White Sox team.
He’s far more logical for a contending roster — think the Giants, Astros, or even a reunion with the Mariners — clubs looking to deepen their lineup and add postseason experience.
Chicago could do its due diligence, but expecting them to be serious contenders for Polanco feels unrealistic. The Sox need foundational pieces, not luxury additions.