According to MLB insider Mike Rodrigue,z the Houston Astros are strongly pursuing free agent infielder Jorge Polanco. A switch hitter, Polanco was an All-Star in 2019 when he played for the Minnesota Twins. The Dominican second baseman/shortstop underwent surgery on his left knee on October 10th to repair the most severe injury of his career. He has had a history of injuries but can bounce back in 2025. In addition, he is expected to be ready for spring training and is recovering well from the surgery. Polanco sports a career OPS of .765. He has hit 14 or more home runs in each of the last five seasons.
According to my sources, the #Astros are strongly interested in infielder Jorge Polanco to the point that they offered around $5M for one season. The Yankees are also after his services. Remember that Polanco underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee. #Astros #Yankees… pic.twitter.com/Lu5zkxemN9
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) January 15, 2025
Free Agent Switch-Hitter Jorge Polanco Being Eyed by Astros
While Polanco’s recent surgery could be a turn-off to acquiring him, it was merely a meniscus repair. This is a common procedure for athletes which they often rebound from. Polanco would also be a solid addition to the Astros for several reasons. Firstly, he is qualified in terms of his adaptability and the offense that he can provide to them. He is also a veteran with 11 seasons of big league experience. According to Baseball Savant, he had a decent chase percentage of 24.0 and an above-average walk rate of 9.8% in 2024 with the Seattle Mariners.
Polanco is 31 years old and the Astros will be looking to replace free agent Alex Bregman if he leaves. The postseason star has been linked with multiple teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and the Chicago Cubs. Polanco has played well in his career against the Astros, with a .335 batting average along with smashing 10 home runs, and 25 RBI. Not having to face him anymore and adding him on an affordable one-year deal makes sense for the Astros as a depth infield addition.
Yankees Also Interested
The Bronx Bombers have also been eyeing Polancom as they are still looking to add an infielder to their lineup. This has been followed by the idea of them shedding supplemental players such as starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. Stroman has been rumored as a trade chip, as there is little room for him in the rotation. With the Yankees signing starting pitcher Max Fried this offseason and Stroman’s absence in the 2024 postseason, the likelihood of him being traded continues to grow.
According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, trading Stroman would also help the Yankees avoid paying a large luxury tax. Trading Stroman could help the Yankees bolster their lineup. If they do decide to trade Stroman, the Yankees may pursue Polanco as they look to add infield depth. Their longtime second baseman Gleyber Torres went to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year deal on December 27th.
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