MLB offseason notes: Will the Mariners re-sign Jorge Polanco? Plus, MacKenzie Gore’s future – The Athletic

The beauty of the Seattle Mariners is that they need not rely solely on free agents such as first baseman Josh Naylor, whom they re-signed Monday to a five-year, $92.5 million deal, or second baseman Jorge Polanco, who remains on their wish list.

In the winter, The Athletic’s Keith Law rated the Mariners’ farm system as the best in baseball, including six of their position prospects among his top 100. Two of those players, second baseman Cole Young and catcher Harry Ford, reached the majors last season. Two more, infielder Colt Emerson and second baseman Michael Arroyo, could enter the picture in 2026, Emerson as soon as Opening Day.

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.

Whatever happens with Polanco, the Mariners still must figure out third base.

Ben Williamson is an excellent defender who hit only one home run in 277 at-bats with a .604 OPS. His offensive struggles prompted the Mariners to acquire Eugenio Suárez at the deadline. Now, with Suárez on the open market, the Mariners are again weighing their options.

An expensive free agent such as Munetaka Murakami would appear a long shot after the commitment to Naylor — and with Emerson, 20, coming quickly.

Emerson, the 22nd overall pick out of John Glenn High (New Concord, Ohio) in 2023, has played shortstop almost exclusively in the minors. He ultimately could replace the Mariners’ incumbent at short, J.P. Crawford, who is entering his free-agent year. But third base next season is not out of the question. The Mariners view Emerson the same way they did Julio Rodríguez entering 2022 — the kind of talent they won’t hold down if he shows he is ready in spring training.

Rodríguez went on to win Rookie of the Year, netting the Mariners the 29th pick in the 2023 draft under the collectively bargained Prospect Promotion Incentive program. With that selection, the Mariners took outfielder Jonny Farmelo out of Westfield High (Chantilly, Va.). Farmelo tore his right ACL in June 2024, but returned last season to produce a .778 OPS in 29 games at High A.

Other prospects are getting closer as well. Arroyo, listed at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, draws comparisons to Howie Kendrick with his compact build. Outfielder Lazaro Montes, 6-foot-5 and 210, possesses monster power. Those two were part of the same international class in 2022, Arroyo from Colombia, Montes from Cuba. A wave of pitching, from lefty Kade Anderson to switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje to righty Ryan Sloan, also is in development.

Some of those players will succeed. Some might not. Regardless, the Mariners are well-positioned, both in the short and long term.

Nationals’ Gore not certain to be gone

Executives interested in trading for starting pitching are not necessarily convinced some of the bigger names will stay put, believing teams are simply posturing to drive up prices.

If that’s the case, pitchers such as Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and Minnesota’s Joe Ryan eventually could become more attainable. Their respective clubs might simply prefer to wait until after the big free-agent starters sign, knowing the losing bidders could turn desperate.

Washington lefty MacKenzie Gore, under club control for two more seasons with a projected arbitration number of $4.7 million, would seem a more obvious candidate to move. But even with Gore, who plays for a rebuilding club, there is an argument to wait.

An All-Star in 2025, Gore started 30 games, pitching to a 4.17 ERA. (Rafael Suanes / Imagn Images)

Gore, who turns 27 in February, is one of the Nats players new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni believes might find “another gear.” The interest in him at the trade deadline, when free-agent alternatives are not available, should be even more intense. And naturally, the Nats think Gore might benefit from working with their new pitching coach, Simon Mathews.

The risk in keeping Gore, of course, is that he might get hurt, sinking his trade value. And that risk might outweigh every other factor for the Nats — who unlike, say, the Tigers — do not expect to contend.

Pirates’ Oviedo: A hidden gem?

The supply of quality starting pitching does not meet the demand, compelling teams to inquire on some under-the-radar possibilities. Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic is one. Pittsburgh Pirates righty Johan Oviedo is another.

Oviedo, 27, underwent Tommy John surgery in December 2023, then suffered a right lat strain in the spring of ’25 that delayed his return until Aug. 4. But he posted a 3.57 ERA in nine starts down the stretch, emerging as something of an analytical darling.

What is it about Oviedo teams like? A Pirates official, granted anonymity for his candor, said Oviedo …

• Improved his fastball shapes while rehabilitating, achieving greater separation between his four-seamer and two-seamer.
• Missed so much time that he still will be relatively affordable in his final two years of arbitration, with MLBTradeRumors.com projecting at $2 million next season.
• Intrigues teams as a 6-foot-5, 245-pound behemoth who touches 98 mph and is highly competitive, raising the possibility of untapped potential.

Of course, Oviedo appeals to the Pirates for all those reasons as well, so they aren’t eager to trade him. Still, he is one of the starters they would entertain moving for the right position-player return.

Righty Mitch Keller, owed $54.5 million over the next three seasons, is perhaps the Pirates starter most likely to go. The team is unlikely to trade two members of its rotation, and if they chose such a path would need to backfill at least one of those spots.

Stammen’s influence showing in San Diego

The hiring of Craig Stammen as manager, along with the return of pitching coach Ruben Niebla, helped cement lefty pitcher Kyle Hart’s decision to return to the San Diego Padres.

Stammen and Hart developed a relationship last season, when Stammen, just a few years removed from a 13-year career as a reliever, worked in the Padres’ front office. The two live near each other in Ohio.

Familiarity playing a major role in a reunion makes sense, especially since, in Hart’s case, some of his underlying numbers didn’t match results. Hart, who turns 33 next week, produced a 5.86 ERA in 43 innings while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. But he had a 3.56 expected ERA, which offers reason for optimism. Hart expects to work in a similar role next season.

Hart’s one-year contract with a club option for 2027, which the club announced Monday, guarantees him $1.2 million, a league source said. It’s possible that if he waited longer into the offseason a similar major-league deal or an opportunity to pitch again in Korea would have materialized.

Around the horn

• Rival executives cite two names to keep in mind as new Colorado Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta builds out his front office: Ian Levin and Chad MacDonald.

Levin worked with DePodesta in the New York Mets’ organization and ultimately rose to assistant GM before leaving the team at the end of the 2024 season. MacDonald, a veteran scout, also overlapped with DePodesta while with the Mets, and left the team for personal reasons at the end of ’23. The roles they would play if hired by Colorado are unclear.

DePodesta was the Mets’ vice president of player development and scouting from November 2010 to January 2016. That was his last job in baseball before the Cleveland Browns hired him as their chief strategy officer.

• Teams are asking the Chicago White Sox about catcher Kyle Teel, a left-handed hitter who made a more impressive debut last season than their other receiver, switch hitter Edgar Quero, according to major-league sources.

The White Sox, while in no position to cut off trade discussions, are not inclined to move either catcher unless they get a spectacular return. Teams today view the catching position as a two-man job, and the White Sox lack depth behind Teel and Quero.

• Finally, the deadline for 13 free agents to decide whether to accept or reject their qualifying offers is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Teams must file their reserve lists for all major- and minor-league levels by 6 p.m. Tuesday. The tender deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.