NY Mets’ unexpected plan with Jorge Polanco helps them in a completely different way

Jorge Polanco isn’t going to play much, if any, second base for the New York Mets. In his entire career, he has never had a positive Outs Above Average at any position.

Run prevention was the focus of the Mets this offseason. Keeping Polanco in batting gloves and maybe a first baseman’s mitt every once in a while appears to be one way to get offense while not giving up runs.

By taking one of the more coveted remaining free agents off the block at his position, the Mets are helping themselves in another way. Second basemen on the trade block are very popular. Brandon Lowe, Brendan Donovan, and even Nico Hoerner have all been mentioned in offseason MLB rumors. So, too, has our very own Jeff McNeil. One fewer free agent for the position made him a little more important for teams to acquire.

Signing Jorge Polanco made Jeff McNeil a tad more special on the trade block

Willi Castro is probably the best remaining second baseman in free agency and he’s more of a super utility guy anyway. Teams who already have second base locked up could have him as a solution. Beyond him, anyone looking to upgrade at the position will need to make a trade. This includes Polanco’s former club, the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners have had plenty of second base problems over the years with Polanco’s success last season being a surprising answer. He wasn’t good in 2024 but cut his strikeout rate in half last season and saw his home run total soar. They’ve been a long speculated landing spot for McNeil.

Other teams looking for a second baseman include the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Francisco Giants. Four different teams who could conceivably look to add McNeil, we shouldn’t discount a few other ball clubs who are one other trade away from clearing space on their roster, too.

The Mets didn’t sign Polanco to make McNeil a few percentage points more desirable on the trade block. It’s just an added bonus.

McNeil trade rumors with specific destinations have certainly cooled off, in part because of the better and lower salaried players who could be on the move first. The Polanco addition assures us he’ll be gone. It might just take a little while longer before someone nibbles on the hook.