Return of Jorge Polanco from the IL to the NY Mets roster is oddly easy to navigate

Jorge Polanco is expected to return to the New York Mets lineup over the weekend against the San Diego Padres. We can’t make too many assumptions about the kind of player he’ll be. Brought in to be a professional hitter and option at DH and first base, the most important thing he can do is rattle off a few home runs, draw some walks, and put the ball in play like he did for the Seattle Mariners last year.

The Mets bought into his success in 2025, notably the huge cut down in Ks. A 15.6% K rate was a massive improvement over what he did the year prior at 29.2%. In just 61 plate appearances for the Mets this season, he had it down to a promising 18%.

His performance will need time to develop. More immediate is how they handle him and several others who’ll be affected. In another situation, it might be more complicated. Not with Polanco’s return. It’s self-explanatory what the Mets need to do.

Everything the Mets need to do when Jorge Polanco returns from the IL

Jorge Polanco is eased into everyday DH duties

The Mets aren’t going to push, nor should they, Polanco into everyday DH duties. He shouldn’t even play the field until he’s 100%. If back for Friday’s opener, he should play on Friday and Sunday with a day off in between. Ease him into his role as the main DH with a plan of no more than 5 starts a week until everyone is confident he’s not about to reaggravate any of the injuries that have had him sitting on the IL since mid-April.

Mark Vientos sits against most righties, except when Jorge Polanco may need a day off

Mark Vientos hasn’t gotten it done against righties. Don’t look so surprised. He has carved out a niche for himself as a guy best used against left-handed pitchers. It can become predictable that when he goes up against a right-handed pitcher he’s probably going to get bested. The simplest logic needs to apply to him. On most days when the Mets face a righty, he doesn’t start. Because Polanco will be eased into more regular at-bats, Vientos shouldn’t completely disappear in these circumstances.

Jared Young remains in the lineup against all right-handed pitchers as a first baseman, DH, and maybe a few other spots

When the Mets face a right-handed pitcher, Jared Young needs to play. He has earned it. Capable of playing first base, DH, and even some corner outfield, he’s a power-hitting utility player whose defense might not shine but bat can. There’s no need to put him in the lineup against a lefty nor should the Mets consider it unless the poles shift. The number of lefty starters the Mets will face should make this one of the easiest calls. Right now, this is a role Young will need to lose.

The complicated part is exactly who to send to the minors

Someone needs to lose their job and it’ll end up being MJ Melendez or Eric Wagaman. Vidal Brujan can play shortstop and a couple other positions. It’s a simple choice between a lefty or righty with other factors at play, too. Wagaman is far more versatile on defense. Sticking with him makes sense with one exception: it’ll be nice to have a lefty bat like Melendez’s on the bench on days when Polanco and Young both start. Either one is fine for the simple fact that Mets shouldn’t depend on this one roster spot to determine if they win or lose. A bit sick of Melendez’s coldness outside of the walk-off homer, let’s give Wagaman a longer look.

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