The New York Mets have found someone else willing to take their money.
Despite signing reliever Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million contract, the Mets offseason has been defined by the players who left. Closer Edwin Diaz (Dodgers), first baseman Pete Alonso (Orioles) and reliever Tyler Rogers (Blue Jays) left New York in the rearview mirror.
The Mets believe that they have found their answer at first base. Infielder Jorge Polanco has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract on Saturday, adding another solid bat to the lineup. Polanco had a strong 2025 with the Mariners, posting a .265/.326/.495 batting line with 26 homers and 30 doubles over 524 plate appearances. He is expected to also see time as the Mets designated hitter while filling in around the infield.
New York Mets’ desperation leads to questionable signing
While Polanco has been a solid major leaguer, he is not the power bat the Mets need. He has eclipsed the 20-home run mark thrice in his decade in the majors, with a career-best 33 home runs in 2021. Alonso, meanwhile, has never hit fewer than 34 homers over a full major league season.
There is also the question of how Polanco will fare at first base. He has exactly zero innings of experience at first throughout his professional career. Polanco is never going to be confused with a Gold Glove-caliber infielder, but the Mets are taking a significant gamble that he can handle first.
The Mets need more than Polanco. The holes in the outfield became even more pronounced when Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers for infielder Marcus Semien. Third base, the rotation and bullpen are all question marks. The Mets needed to do something, but signing Polanco to play first may be a decision made out of desperation as opposed to being grounded in logic.