Bold (and early) Super Bowl predictions; Mariners acquire All-Star infielder Jorge Polanco

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THE SEATTLE MARINERS

The Mariners needed offensive pop. The Twins had a logjam. The result? Former All-Star Jorge Polanco is heading to Seattle, and four players are heading to Minnesota in the latest MLB trade. Here are the details:

• Mariners get: INF Jorge Polanco
• Twins get: SP Anthony DeSclafani, RP Justin Topa, prospects OF Gabriel Gonzalez and RHP Darren Bowen, cash

Polanco, 30, had his breakout All-Star campaign in 2019, but the switch hitter has been steady otherwise, too, notes Mike Axisa.

• Axisa: “He has posted at least a 110 OPS+ in the last five 162-game seasons, meaning he has been at least 10% better than league average once adjusted for ballpark and other factors. … For the Mariners, the trade gives them the middle of the order bat they sorely need. Polanco is versatile enough to step in at second or third base — second base is his best and most familiar position — where Seattle had Josh Rojas and Luis Urías penciled in.”

The Twins can play Edouard Julien at second base and Royce Lewis at third base, which made Polanco a natural trade candidate.

In Minnesota, DeSclafani should step into the starting rotation while Topa, who posted a 2.61 ERA last season, should feature prominently in the bullpen. Gonzalez and Bowen were both in Single-A ball last year, with Gonzalez the more highly regarded prospect.

😄 Honorable mentions

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