NY Mets took a refreshing approach with Jorge Polanco fans should embrace

For a change, David Stearns didn’t do a David Stearns thing. It’s only because the presentation declared Jorge Polanco a first base option days after Pete Alonso left the New York Mets that had fans feeling like they went somewhat cheap to replace their beloved star.

While an offensive downgrade, it’s not as if Stearns did what he often does and bought low on someone. On the contrary, he bought refreshingly high on an experienced big league veteran.

We should be happy David Stearns was willing to buy high on a player rather than look for a bargain rebound candidate

Those signings of “he was bad last year, but I like this one thing about him” signings seem to have failed more often than succeeded. Sean Manaea was an anomaly in 2024. The same could be true for Luis Severino who was a much less talented pitcher last season with the Athletics. Griffin Canning might be the only player added in 2025 who actually worked out as a buy low addition. An early-season ending injury spoiled what could’ve been a career-year.

The Mets haven’t gotten completely away from passing over those types of players. In some regards, Marcus Semien is this. He didn’t have the kind of offensive output he used to and the team will be counting on him for much more. Devin Williams is coming off of a bad year with the New York Yankees. The numbers were poor, but the stuff was there. It’s a little easier to justify and understand that one as opposed to some of the others.

This winter lacked the room on the roster to make an abundance of moves aimed to find a bargain player who had been good in the past that needed some sort of faith-based opportunity. Missing the playoffs stole away the exclusivity of signing or trading for players in that category. Some surer things were required and Polanco seems to be a safer addition than many we’ve seen Stearns make.

What’s more, this isn’t feeling like one of the past DH platoons where a pair of lesser players were patchworked together. He’s an athletic but not especially fast player. As far as DH’s go, it’s the antithesis of many of the planned individuals and duos the Mets had from the recent past. This ain't your daddy's Daniel Vogelbach-Darin Ruf connection.

Capable of playing the field and at multiple positions, he's not a stiff who'll be forced in only as a hitter. The Mets would probably prefer to limit those opportunities. With first base now open, maybe they can at least get some positive results from an ex-shortstop. Even if they don't, his ability to hit lefties and righties should make him a 162-game option and someone looking to repeat or build on last year's performance.