Jorge Polanco
There were many reasons the 2024 New York Mets came back from the dead to make it to Game 6 of the NLCS. One of the biggest was Mark Vientos.
While he kept giving that team reasons to give him a job, they kept holding him back. Finally, when they had no other choice, Vientos grabbed a job and didn’t let go.
In 2024, Vientos had a 132 wRC+, which if he qualified, would have been the best along National League third baseman. If you didn’t believe there, he followed up with a great postseason.
Unfortunately, he struggled in 2025. There were injuries. There was a change in his successful approach and just about all things Eric Chavez. There was also the fact once he faltered the Mets just jumped at the chance to give the job back to Brett Baty.
It’s no secret Vientos isn’t a David Stearns style player. After all, he is a poor defender. However, Vientos has game changing offensive ability, and you could argue that was one of the many things missing during the 2025 Mets collapse.
Vientos showed some glimpses, and he did force the issue for the vacant DH spot. However, Vientos wasn’t the same player, and entering the offseason, he was a purposeful afterthought.
Vientos was relegated to be nothing mouse than a platoon bat. It was so absurd that when a right-handed pitcher entered a game, Vientos was automatically lifted for Baty.
The man once floated as Pete Alonso’s replacement was a non-factor once Alonso actually left. A bad WBC and Spring Training didn’t help matters.
Much like 2024, the Mets were doing all they could to not give Vientos a job. Like 2024, with injuries, opportunities are presenting themselves to Vientos, and he is more than earning a job.
Trying to figure out playing time at first and DH is tough when you have Baty, Jorge Polanco, and Vientos. For the short term, it’s easy because Vientos is the only one healthy. In the long term, Vientos can again make it easy by hitting like he can.
Vientos has the potential to be the Mets hitter not named Juan Soto. At the plate, he has 30+ HR power and can post a wRC+ above 130. That’s the type of bat that needs to be in this Mets lineup.
Vientos can hit. He can be a game changer. We saw in 2024 he can take the Mets to another level. We are again seeing that player, and as a result, he needs to be in the lineup everyday even when everyone is healthy.
The New York Mets made their first significant sogning of the offseason agreeing to a contract with former Seattle Mariner Jorge Polanco. This is a move met with derision from most, but it’s a move that makes sense for the Mets.
First and foremost, Polanco is a bat. Last year, he had a 132 wRC+. If you’re looking to replace Pete Alonso’s career 132 wRC+, the Mets have done that.
Yes, Alonso has historically been the more reliable bat, and he’s coming off a better year. That said, Polanco has been a 116 wRC+ or better in five of the last seven seasons while hitting in more difficult ballparks.
All told, Polanco can hit. This is a plus. Even better, Polanco can DH. That’s important for a Mets team who never adequately filled that role since the abomination of the universal DH.
There’s also been discussion of Polanco potentially learning to play first base. That’s led to many invoking Ron Washington’s famous line from Moneyball.
The irony here, of course, is Polanco is replacing the homegrown legend of Alonso like Scott Hatteberg was replacing Jason Giambi. The parallels continue as Alonso and Giambj were both truly terrible defensive first basemen.
However, when looking at the transition to first, Hatteberg isn’t the comp for Polanco. Hatteberg was a catcher, and Polanco was a middle infielder.
On that front, we have old friend Wilmer Flores. He was a poor middle infielder who has been good at first. He had a 7 OAA at the position.
There’s also Nomar Garciaparra. His injuries eventually forced him off shortstop and move to first. When healthy, Garciaparra proved to be quite a good first baseman.
Looking at players who need to move out of the middle infield, they do tend to be good first baseman. For Polanco, the floor is as low as it gets.
Alonso had a -9 OAA in consecutive seasons. His throws to first were comically bad and was a factor in Kodai Senga’s injury and second half collapse. Admittedly, the Mets will miss his scoop ability,l. Remember, at that, Alonso was the best in the game.
Taking everything into account, Polanco has a legitimate chance to be better than Alonso defensively. He could also be close offensively, which may result in Polanco being a better overall player.
This is not about replacing Alonso’s homers. It’s about replacing global production. There are many ways to get to a 132 wRC+.
And again, if he can’t play first, Polanco is the DH. Last season, the Mets DHs had a collective 102 wRC+. A position that was purely designed for offensive production was a league average bat. They ranked 20th in offensive production at the position.
No, Polanco was not the flashy name, but he might’ve just been the right name. Considering his offensive production and his reputation as a good clubhouse presence, he could be exactly what the Mets need.