Jorge Polanco Re-Signs
Well, earlier this week Bruce Levine named free agent infielder Jorge Polanco as a potential target for the Cubs, who are reportedly still interested in signing another to provide more depth on the bench. Polanco, who played with the Seattle Mariners in 2024, has re-signed.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Polanco's one-year deal is worth $7.75 million. The contract also includes an option for the 2026 season. It also appears as though the Houston Astros had strong interest in signing Polanco and starting him at second base.
The 31-year-old ultimately decided to stay in Seattle, where Polanco will be the primary third baseman.
Polanco one-year guarantee is $7.75M, including $750K buyout on a vesting player/mutual option for 2026 based on plate appearances, source says. @Feinsand first with structure.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 31, 2025
(Previous Update)
Chicago baseball insider Bruce Levine dropped a handful of nuggets regarding the remaining offseason plans for the Cubs and it turns out that the team is still interested in signing another free agent infielder. While the Cubs are somewhat in the mix for Alex Bregman, waiting to see if the third baseman will re-think his position on a short-term contract, the front office is reportedly on the search for more depth on the bench.
Despite signing veteran infielder Jon Berti to a one-year deal the Cubs still want to upgrade the bench and Levine name-dropped a pair of free agents who could be on their radar.
Via Audacy.
The club is still interested in adding another veteran infielder, with the likes of Jose Iglesias and Jorge Polanco looming as potential names who could help their bench.
Iglesias, 35, hit .337 with an .830 OPS in 85 games for the Mets in 2024. Polanco, 31, hit .213 with 16 homers and a .651 OPS in 118 games for the Mariners last season.
Taking a quick look at the current Cubs roster you can project the Opening Day starting infield to be: Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw. However, the Cubs aren't sure one way or another whether Hoerner will be fully recovered from his offseason surgery by the time the team kicks off the season with a pair of games in Japan in the middle of March.
Behind Berti the Cubs do not have much proven depth on the bench in case another injury pops up.
The team traded for Vidal Bruján earlier in the offseason and he's the only other player on the Cubs' 40-man roster with previous MLB experience. Bruján hasn't produced much at the plate, posting a career .531 OPS in 201 MLB games. Benjamin Cowles and Gage Workman, the other two infielders on the 40-man, haven't played above Double-A in their respective careers.
So, it makes sense that the Cubs remain on the lookout for another proven infielder in addition to Berti.
Although Jose Iglesias and his 137 wRC+ from the 2024 season with the New York Mets appears to be the more attractive option for the Cubs, I'm not quite sure how repeatable that is for the 35-year-old. Iglesias slashed .337/.381/.448, in 291 plate appearances, but he has a career 90 wRC+. The only season when Iglesias was an above average hitter with at least 300 trips to the plate came in 2013, when he had a 102 wRC+ in 382 plate appearances.
To be clear, adding Iglesias wouldn't be a bad move for the Cubs. Not a lot of power, but plenty of contact, carrying a career .283 batting average that has boosted his OBP to a decent mark at .323. He can play second, shortstop and third base and rated positively as an overall defender in 2024.
Meanwhile, Jorge Polanco had a frustrating season with the Seattle Mariners. The switch-hitter dealt with a knee injury that limited him to 118 games. The 31-year-old eventually had surgery in October.
Polanco missed a month on the injured list and it took him some time to regain his timing when he returned, but he eventually turned the corner. From July 24 through the end of the season, Polanco slashed .232/.314/.432, with 10. home runs in 210 plate appearances. His 116 wRC+ during the final couple months of the season was more in line with his career 109 wRC+.
From 2021-23, Polanco hit 63 home runs with the Minnesota Twins. He slashed .255/.333/.462, a 120 wRC+ with a 10.1 BB%.
Unlike Iglesias though, Polanco is not known as a good defensive infielder.
I think Polanco would be the better acquisition, but he's probably looking for more guaranteed playing time to re-establish his value following a down 2024 season.
The Cubs have previously been linked to free agent infielders Josh Rojas and Yoan Moncada. Rojas signed with the White Sox, while Moncada remains unsigned.
