At some point this winter, Seattle Mariners fans are going to have to accept a weird new reality: the Pirates keep showing up in our business. First it was Josh Naylor. Now, here in the middle of the Winter Meetings, they’re reportedly lining up a run at Jorge Polanco — the exact kind of switch-hitting, professional bat Seattle just watched put their offense back together.
Pittsburgh’s flirtation with Naylor was the first warning sign. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported they were ready to push into the $78–80 million range for him, a staggering figure for a franchise that usually shops in the “three-years-and-a-dream” aisle.