It makes the most sense to trade Jorge Polanco

Let me be clear, when I am a fan of a team, I become a fan of the players. Even when they struggle, as long as they seem to have a good attitude, or are otherwise unproblematic in the clubhouse, I just want them to be successful. I don't get mad at players who aren't playing well, I just hope they can do their best. Ultimately though, I understand that baseball is a business, and there is a combination of factors in all decisions, notably cost efficiency and winning games. This is all to say that I have grown attached to Jorge Polanco and wish he could stay in Minnesota forever, but that is neither cost efficient, nor is that the best way to win games.

Polanco will be making $10m on his option this year, and the Twins are in the market to see their salary reduced. Position players are at a premium on the free agent market this year, so there should be takers for Polanco, even at that salary. 

All right, admittedly, his salary isn't outrageous, however with the emergence of Edouard Julien, the near arrival of Austin Martin and the current presence of Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon, it will be easy to replace Polanco at a reduced salary. 

Instead of keeping a glut of middle infielders, the Twins can also reallocate the resources they do have and replace some of the depth in the rotation by moving Polanco. Not only will the step back by losing Polanco be marginal, the return could help bolster what was a strength in 2023, but is losing some pieces this offseason. 

For no other reason than the Google algorithm has been sending me a headline about how the Red Sox might be interested in Polanco, I pieced something together that might satisfy those needs, but also give some perspective on what a realistic trade might look like between the clubs. 

First, I entertained the thought of a trade for Alex Verdugo, who is rumored to be available, but with Max Kepler already in the "Left handed corner outfielder in a contract year" position, it didn't seem like Verdugo fit any of the Twins' needs. Instead, I found a starting pitcher whose "Trade Value" according to the site Baseball Trade Values seemed easy to make work with Polanco's.

Nick Pivetta is also in his walk year, and has pitched in the Red Sox Bullpen to some success. He's not a front line starter, but would be expected to backfill the expected loss of Kenta Maeda. Perhaps appealing to the Twins, Pivetta has seen his success increase as he has used his slider more frequently. 

While this is a move that does make sense, I can't in good faith imagine that a team would be willing to trade one year of a pitcher for one year of a second baseman, even if you did throw in a prospect like catcher Noah Cardenas. Maybe the Twins would be interested in Pivetta. Maybe the Red Sox would be interested in Polanco. I can't see them being traded for each other, but it gives you an idea what a market for Polanco could look like.

Jorge Polanco probably won't end up a Twin next season, which stinks and makes sense at the same time. Fortunately, there are going to be options for trading Polanco that will result in the Twins getting better.