Seattle Mariners Insider provides a disappointing update on the top prospects heading into 2025

On Friday, the Seattle Mariners declined their $12 million team option on second baseman Jorge Polanco. It was a move that was expected by Mariners media members. For a team that is reportedly going to be budget-conscious again this season, they can’t afford to take an aging infielder with a big knee and a .213 batting average at that price.

Now the Mariners do have options after jettisoning Polanco. First, they could try to bring him back at a lower number. Second, they have Ryan Bliss in the system, who made his debut a season ago and brings some nice things to the table, like speed and a bit of power. Third, they could go out and acquire a stopgap option like Ha-Seong Kim in free agency, or trade for a guy like Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays ($10.5 million deal in 2025).

However, it appears there is one option not on the table, and that is top prospect Cole Young. According to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, Young is not seen as a man ready for the job on Opening Day in 2025. Jude also says he might not be ready until 2026.

Cole Young, the Mariners’ 2022 first-round pick, is the club’s second baseman of the future. He spent the entire 2024 season at Class AA Arkansas and isn’t expected to be big-league ready until 2026.

That’s a disappointing development for M fans, who were hoping Young would contribute in 2025. Since the organization is budget conscious, having Young in the Majors would have meant they didn’t have to allocate resources to second base, meaning they could have. resources allocated to other positions of need, such as first base or third base.

Young helped the Travelers win the Southern League championship this year. In 124 games, he hit .271 with a .369 on-base percentage. He had nine home runs, 57 RBI, walked 67 and stole 23 bases. The Sailors, who have struggled to connect in each of the past two seasons due to rising strikeout rates, could certainly use this version of Young at the big league level.

Apparently it won’t be early 2025.

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