Yesterday, the Twins sent infielder Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners. And a small piece of my baseball heart went with him. Jorge was my favorite player in the Twins right now. Ah, I knew this day would arrive. The writing was clearly on the wall, especially considering Eddy Julien’s ascent and Polanco’s string of ailments over the last several seasons.
That is the lot of the die-hard baseball fan. You are aware that your preferred player will eventually retire or be moved. That’s just the nature of things. Naturally, I have already traveled this route. Eddie Rosario was an outfielder I had to say goodbye to at the end of the 2020 campaign. And way back then, in 1979, I experienced a difficult withdrawal Rod Carew was traded by the Twins to the Angels. Since Rod is my all-time favorite baseball player, this was very challenging.
What captivated me about Jorge Polanco? He was a skilled, hard-working ballplayer who never turned down a task. He was an All-Star shortstop at the beginning. Subsequently, they moved him to second base, where he blossomed into one of baseball’s greatest at his position. Additionally, Polanco diligently covered the hot corner until Royce Lewis returned from his injuries sustained during the previous season.
Jorge Polanco was also an accomplished ballplayer. After moving to second base in 2021, Polanco had his finest season to date. In terms of home runs, RBIs, runs scored, and stolen bases that season, he topped the squad. He had a brilliant 4.9 WAR in that particular year. Jorge received the team’s Most Valuable Player Diamond Award at the conclusion of the campaign.
Trade Polanco
A note on the trade, too. Polanco was traded by the Twins to the Mariners in exchange for reliever Justin Topa, starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, and prospects Darren Bowen and Gabriel Gonzalez. Topa will take up a crucial position in the bullpen that was left empty when Emilio Pagan left for Cincinnati in free agency, and DeSclafani is expected to start as the team’s fifth starter.
Gonzalez, an outfielder and first baseman with a lot of hitting power, is currently ranked among the Twins’ top five prospects. Pitcher Bowen is among the team’s top thirty prospects and has some upside if his velocity continues to develop. In exchange, Minnesota got a huge sum of money. According to management, they want to use this unexpected financial infusion to support the team’s inaugural
Regards Over the last six seasons, Jorge Polonco has consistently produced runs for the Twins. He was a tremendous clubhouse presence, a reliable teammate, and a calming figure for a team going through a youth movement. We shall miss him. Jorge Polanco, I appreciate all you’ve done for the Minnesota Twins and their supporters!
