The Seattle Mariners suffered arguably their first big loss of the offseason Saturday morning.

Veteran infielder Jorge Polanco, who mainly played second base and designated hitter for the Mariners the past two seasons, signed with the New York Mets on a straight two-year, $40 million deal.

The news came via a report from ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan, who said Polanco will play mostly first base and DH for New York.

A subsequent report from New York Post columnist Joel Sherman said the Mets envision Polanco, who played some innings at third for Seattle this past season, playing multiple positions the next two years. Polanco doesn't have in-game experience at first base, but did spend time practicing there in 2025.

Another report from the Seattle Times' Adam Jude said the Mariners were Polanco's top choice and he was "very torn" on the decision, but opted for the best deal available for him on the open market.

In an article for the Seattle Times, Jude reported Seattle also offered Polanco a two-year deal, but didn't match the overall money New York offered the one-time All-Star. It was unknown at the time of Polanco signing with the Mets what the value of the Mariners' contract offer was.

Polanco's first year in the Pacific Northwest in 2024 was mired with injury that saw him miss nearly 50 games due to a right hamstring strain and play through a left patellar tendon injury. Polanco underwent offseason surgery for the latter of the two ailments and Seattle brought him back on a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2027.

Polanco had a resurgent 2025 that saw him score 64 runs in 138 games and hit 30 doubles and 26 home runs with 78 RBIs. He slashed .265/.326/.495 with an .821 OPS. His games played, home runs, RBIs and OPS were the most in a single season since 2021 when he was with the Minnesota Twins. His vesting option, based on a number of plate appearances, activated and became a $6 million player option. Polanco declined the player option, which made him a free agent.

In this year's playoffs, Polanco etched his name into annals of Mariners history with his postseason heroics. He hit two home runs off back-to-back American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in Game 2 of a five-game American League Divisional Series against the Detroit Tigers. In Game 5 of the ALDS, he hit the walk-off single in the bottom of the 15th inning to send Seattle to its first American League Championship Series since 2001.

New York had a desperate need at first base after it lost Pete Alonso in free agency. The franchise's all-time leader in home runs signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles this past week.

The Mariners will now look to other options to find an answer at second base. Seattle has been reported to have an interest in St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan and the team has Cole Young and Ryan Bliss still on the roster.

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