Jorge Polanco was a pleasant surprise for the Mariners this year. His 134 OPS+ and 2.6 rWAR was far better than his first season with the club and despite being signed as a designated hitter, he ended up taking quite a few reps at second base towards the end of the year.

Unfortunately, his resurgence likely means he’ll end up with a new team come 2026 and the Mariners will be in the market for a second baseman once again. Luckily, an option they’ve been linked to for the past few offseasons could be made available once more.

The Rays could look to trade away Brandon Lowe this winter, giving Seattle a solid offensive option at second base

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Lowe’s $11.5 million salary could push Tampa Bay’s front office to trade him before Opening Day. Given the short timeline to do so, the Rays already picked up his option in the first week of November, but their frugal ways could see him more as a trade piece than as a future piece of the team, especially since he’ll be a free agent in 2027.

Lowe has been one of the most productive second basemen at the plate since he debuted in 2018, averaging a 123 OPS+ for his career. Last year, he slashed .256/.307/.477 with 19 doubles and 31 homers, tied with Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the most home runs for a primary second baseman.

Can we interest you in a 458 ft. B. Lowe blast pic.twitter.com/3xM9TxAvwd

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 14, 2025

The price he pays for such high quality of contact is plate discipline and swing decision numbers in the bottom quartile of qualified hitters. Last season, he had a whiff rate of 33.4 (4th percentile) and a strikeout rate of 26.9 (12th percentile). He’s also a defensive liability. While playing second base, he accumulated -14 Defensive Runs Saved, better than only Luis García Jr. (-17).

If Lowe is ultimately someone the Mariners are interested in, he’d likely end up playing a very similar role to Polanco, primarily serving as the team’s designated hitter with a few fielding reps if absolutely necessary. To cover second base in the interim, the team still has Cole Young who, despite lukewarm results at the plate (78 OPS+), should continue to improve in his sophomore season. Leo Rivas is also an infielder who showed promise in big moments during the regular and postseason last year.

If you’re incredibly optimistic, you might be of the belief that a major reunion with Ketel Marte will give the Mariners the second baseman they need, but Brandon Lowe is a more realistic choice. He’d be a slightly more expensive version of Jorge Polanco and although it’s always a risky move to do business with the Tampa Bay Rays, it might be a wager worth taking if the team wants a real upgrade at the position for next year.