M’s acquire RHP in trade, announce several roster moves

Nov 5, 2025, 12:46 PM | Updated: 1:05 pm

Seattle Sports

The Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed pitcher Cole Wilcox from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash on Wednesday.

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The Mariners also announced that second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco declined his $6 million player option for 2026, and that second baseman Ryan Bliss and right-handers Trent Thornton and Gregory Santos were reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

Wilcox, 26, made his major league debut with Tampa Bay in 2025. The 2020 third-round pick allowed seven runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks over one inning of work in his lone big league appearance. Wilcox featured a three-pitch mix in his outing for the Rays with a sinker that reached 97.9 mph, slider and sweeper.

The right-hander spent his first four minor league seasons as a starter before moving to a bullpen role in 2025. In 34 appearances in Triple-A this year, he posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 57 strikeouts over 51 innings.

The Mariners’ announcement about Polanco comes with little surprise after the 32 year old had a resurgent year that helped Seattle win the American League West and reach the playoffs. The switch-hitting veteran posted a .265/.326/.495 slash line with 26 home runs, 30 doubles and a 132 wRC+ over 138 games this season. Polanco will be free to sign with any team starting at 2 p.m. Thursday.

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Bliss, 25, was Seattle’s opening day second baseman but missed nearly the entire season after tearing his left biceps in early April. He went 7 for 35 (.200 average) with one homer in 11 games before the injury. Bliss returned in late August and played in six games during a rehab stint with Triple-A Tacoma but suffered a knee injury while playing for the Rainiers that ended his season.

Thornton, 32, tore his left Achilles attempting to cover first base during a July 31 game and missed the final two months of the season. He had a 4.68 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 32 strikeouts over 42 1/3 innings in 33 big league outings.

Santos, 26, was sent down to Triple-A in April after eight appearances in the majors, and he went on the injured list and had surgery on his right knee before pitching in a game for Tacoma. Santos returned from his injury and pitched six games for the Rainiers during a rehab stint in September. In his eight big league outings, he surrendered six runs (four earned) while allowing eight hits and eight walks with no strikeouts over seven innings.

Seattle’s 40-man roster sits at 37 players following Wednesday’s moves.