Grading the NY Mets free agent signing of Jorge Polanco

The New York Mets have continued their offseason of radical change with the reported signing of veteran infielder Jorge Polanco to a multi-year free agent deal. This move comes as the club navigates a significant roster overhaul, following the departures of foundational players. The club has already faced the loss of closer Edwin Diaz and franchise slugger Pete Alonso to free agency, coupled with the trade of outfielder Brandon Nimmo. This shifting landscape has signaled a clear pivot for the Mets, moving away from high-priced, win-now construction toward a more flexible and long-term oriented roster, but the Polanco commitment raises questions about the execution of that strategy.

Polanco's arrival introduces both flexibility and complication to the Mets’ immediate lineup. Reports indicate the team expects him to fill a hybrid role, seeing time moving around the infield at both second and third base, as well as serving as the primary designated hitter and first basemen. However, the decision to commit a significant contract to an infielder, particularly one expected to log time at DH/1B, raises questions about the team's true direction and how he fits among the existing surplus of players on the infield depth chart.

Grading Jorge Polanco signing

From a long-term financial perspective, the acquisition of Polanco carries some merits, even if the reported $20 million average annual value (AAV) seems somewhat high for a player who will be utilized primarily for his defensive flexibility and ability to cover multiple positions. Committing significant capital to a versatile player does offer the club long-term flexibility as other prospects mature and positions open up. The commitment, however, must be judged against the player’s short-term production, where the high AAV may feel punitive for a team actively managing a transition period.

The primary concern surrounding Polanco is whether his recent offensive production is sustainable. While his 2025 season was undeniably good, featuring an impressive .852 OPS and a slugging percentage above .450, coupled with excellent plate discipline and encouraging hard-hit contact, this season appears to be an outlier in his overall batting profile. Notably, his hard-hit contact rate was a career high, but it coincided with an increase in his ground ball rate. This suggests a negative trend in his hitting approach in the short term, which may not translate into optimal offensive production for the Mets going forward.

Polanco possesses high contact skills and an excellent ability to square up pitches, yet his bat speed has never been considered elite, which fundamentally limits the long-term power projection of his bat. His skill set and approach draw strong comparisons to fellow teammate infielder Marcus Semien; however, while Polanco shows slightly more raw power, his overall defense is significantly worse. Without elite defensive value or a consistent track record of elite power, the ceiling for his contract value is limited, making the commitment risky.

The biggest flaw in the signing is the defensive component and its fit with the current roster construction. Polanco’s defense was relatively poor last season, evidenced by a -4 in Outs Above Average and an arm strength ranking in the bottom 20% of the league. Furthermore, his profile is far from that of a typical, power-hitting designated hitter—the role he is reportedly expected to occupy. Given the existing surplus of infielders already on the roster, committing a substantial salary to a player with poor defensive metrics and a profile ill-suited for the DH role makes this particular signing feel ill-advised for the Mets in their current state of radical change.