The overlooked free agent the NY Mets probably wish they had instead of Jorge Polanco

Let’s play a game of hindsight. First, let’s review what happened when the New York Mets signed Jorge Polanco. There was a lot of immediate explanation needed. They already traded for Marcus Semien. The explanation had them planning to use him as their first baseman/DH for the next year or two.

What we’ve gotten out of Polanco is a broken-down veteran who has already landed on the IL after fighting through a day-to-day Achilles’ injury. Who knows when we see him again? Based on the early results, nobody is in much of a rush.

The boldness to sign Polanco for two years and $20 million per year earns an A+ for creativity, an F for practicality. If a first baseman/DH was on the Mets’ wish list, they should have probably gone with someone else who ended up getting paid $11 million less over the two years of his deal, Ryan O’Hearn.

Ryan O’Hearn is looking like an early Mets free agent mess for multiple reasons

O’Hearn landed a two-year deal worth $14.5 million per season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was one of the few free agents who agreed to join them in their pursuit of something better. Through 84 plate appearances, he’s hitting .329/.417/.543 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI. He has 11 walks and 14 strikeouts, a 16.7% K rate and 13.1% BB rate.

Yeah, it’s early. But O’Hearn is doing exactly what the Mets believed Polanco would. He’s putting the ball in play, delivering with power, and he’s playing two positions of need.

O’Hearn is a unique first baseman/right fielder the Pirates are using far more in the latter this year. The Mets need help at both spots. Carson Benge is hitting below his weight. There is no light at the end of the tunnel over at first base.

It’s not as if the Pirates took a flier on O’Hearn and got lucky. He was coming off of a successful 2025 campaign with a .281/.366/.437 slash line with career-highs in home runs (17) and RBI (63). His numbers didn’t change drastically when he went from the Baltimore Orioles to the San Diego Padres. He was steady throughout.

For a team that outwardly projects they like the versatility of someone who can manage multiple positions, it is an interesting choice that there weren’t many rumors about the Mets circling O’Hearn on their wish list.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow