Jorge Polanco details his positional shift and excitement to join a winning Mets squad, aiming to fill a crucial infield void.
The newest New York Met, infielder Jorge Polanco, was introduced to the media on Monday after signing a two-year, $40 million deal. Primarily playing at second base for the Seattle Mariners last season, the plan for Polanco in New York is to fill in at first base after the Mets lost star Pete Alonso in free agency.
“I think the most important part was how they care for their players,” Polanco said through an interpreter during his introduction. “From a team standpoint, we have so many great players who want to win – playing with Francisco Lindor, playing with Juan Soto. Knowing how they treat the game, how they go about the game, and the type of leaders that they are – I’m very excited to be a part of this team.”
Polanco’s intent to win is exactly what Mets fans want to hear after suffering a brutal collapse in the final month of the 2025 season. Despite losing players like Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz in free agency, New York is looking to make a return to the postseason in 2026 – and the Polanco signing should help improve its odds.
Polanco has played just one game at first base in his 12-year career, but that didn’t scare off the Mets’ president of baseball operations, David Stearns.
“As we stand now, we would anticipate Jorge playing first base, DH, and bouncing around to other positions as needed,” Stearns said in a statement after the signing was made official.
Polanco told reporters that he was offering teams his services at multiple positions, with first base being one of them, despite his lack of experience. Perhaps with the desperation of losing Alonso, Stearns and the Mets were more willing ot take the risk and hope Polanco can successfully make the move to first.
“I think the biggest difference is the position that you have to get into for pickoffs or picks or just getting to the base,” Polanco said about adjusting to first base. “I think that was the toughest transition for me, because it’s very different from when you’re playing in the middle of the infield. But I think with my experience of playing second, short, third, it allows me to be an athlete, and I think that my athleticism will help me when I’m playing first base.”
While the switch to first base may take some time, Mets fans are hoping Polanco can pick up where he left off at the plate in 2025. The 32-year-old posted a slash line of .265/.326/.495 with an .821 OPS in 136 games last season.
Though the $40 million deal surpassed his average annual salary market value of $14.6 million, the Mets need to make big moves if they want to play October baseball in 2026. With an owner like Steve Cohen, an overpay for guaranteed production isn’t the worst thing in the world.