![Jorge Polanco received a contract extension from the Twins. [MLB / YouTube screencap]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/2/15/660x290/b_502x220x82/jorge-polanco-receives-a-contract-extension-from-the-twins-as-the-offseason-begins-image-credit-mlb-youtube_2205729.jpg "Jorge Polanco received a contract extension from the Twins. [MLB / YouTube screencap]")
The Minnesota Twins are placing their bets and hoping for a breakout season from Jorge Polanco. This offseason has arrived and with it, a very slow MLB free agent market, meaning contract extensions might come in waves. Previously, it was reported that the Minnesota Twins were expected to extend contracts for several of their core players. The Athletic announced that the team was finalizing a contract extension with shortstop Jorge Polanco.
Minnesota will be holding on to Polanco
ESPN confirmed that it is a seven-year deal worth $25 million, with five years guaranteed.
This deal covers Polanco's final pre-arbitration year, all three years of his arbitration eligibility, and up to three years of free agency. Polanco was originally a top-100 prospect in baseball. He started out strong in his 2016 season but slowed down in 2017.
Jorge Polanco in over 69 games in 16 recorded .282 with a .757 OPS. In 17, he started slowly with a .213/.265/,305 slash-line over his first 310 plate appearances. From then on through the end of the season he recorded .316/.377/.553 (.931 OPS) with 10 home runs over 234 AB's
— Lawrence Lease (@larrymlease) February 15, 2019
Fans and league insiders were hoping for a breakout season in 2018, but Polanco was suspended for the first 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol.
He later said that he had a positive test because of a tainted supplement. Following his return last season, Polanco recorded a .288/.345/.427 with six home runs and 42 RBIs in 333 plate appearances.
The Twins are hedging their bets that Polanco can turn into Cleveland's Jose Ramirez.
Polanco's field spot in question
Jorge Polanco still doesn't have an exact place on the field.
The Twins have both first-round picks Royce Lewis and Nick Gordon in the minor league pipeline at shortstop. However, Nick Gordon struggled at Triple-A last year, recording a .212 /.262/.283 slash-line over 400 plate appearances. Polanco may find himself at third base when the lineup is restructured.
The Twins have a lot of money to spend on extensions for other players like Jose Berrios, Eddie Rosario, and Max Kepler.
Polanco appeared to be their top priority at this time. As for Berrios, he made Twins history in 2017 and I wanted to share that fact.
Predicting the future when it comes to major league prospects is nearly impossible. However, shortstop is a position the Twins do not have to worry about. They have plenty of choices in the farm system and now have secured five seasons of Polanco. Polanco now has one strike against him in the league's drug testing program. Betting on Polanco is now a risky move for the Twins, but it is a gamble that some teams need to take when it comes to locking up young talent in contracts.
