NEW YORK — Throughout this offseason, even as they said goodbye to franchise cornerstones like Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz, Mets officials insisted this was not a rebuild or a reboot, but rather a roster reconfiguration.
The Mets still intend to build a competitive team, and they took a step toward that goal Saturday by agreeing to a two-year deal with Jorge Polanco, a switch-hitting infielder known largely for his postseason play. The contract, which the Mets have not confirmed because it is not yet official, is worth $40 million, according to a source.
After a poor first season in 2024 with the Mariners, Polanco returned to his best in 2025, and closed the campaign with an epic performance in the postseason. The 32-year-old switch-hitter had his best offensive year since 2021 with the Twins, posting a line of .265/.326/.495 (.821 OPS), 26 homers and 78 RBIs. He got off to a roaring start, hitting nine homers at the end of April and with an OPS over 1,000 until mid-May. Then, he bounced back at the end of the season after a mid-year slump.
Polanco only hit .329 with a 1.015 OPS in the month of September, but he also had key moments in October. He hit two home runs off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to help the Mariners win Game 2 of the American League Division Series, and then broke out with the decisive hit in Game 5 to send Seattle to the American League Championship Series. Polanco drove in two runs in Game 1 of the ALCS and hit a three-run homer to give the Mariners a 2-0 series lead.
Polanco did not receive a qualifying offer from the Mariners after the season, so there is no draft compensation or penalty for signing him.
In 2025, Polanco looked like the player Seattle’s team expected when they acquired him from the Twins during the 2023-24 offseason. He hit just .213 with a .651 OPS in his first season with Seattle, including a .606 OPS at home, and his -10 Outs Above Average at second base was the worst among the 37 qualified players at that position.
Polanco was used primarily as a designated hitter in 2025, serving as the starting designated hitter in 87 games. He played another 34 as a starting second baseman (-1 OAA in 2025) and five at third base. At the plate, he changed history in home games, hitting .288 with 15 home runs and a .902 OPS at T-Mobile Park, a stadium that favors pitchers.
Polanco debuted at age 20 with the Twins in 2014 and spent his first 10 seasons in the Major Leagues with Minnesota. In his 12-year career, he has a .263/.330/.442 line with 154 career home runs. He has a .787 OPS as a left-handed hitter and a .737 OPS as a right-handed hitter.
Polanco joins Semien and closer Devin Williams as the Mets’ top acquisitions so far this winter. The team still has plenty of holes to fill, including in the outfield, rotation and bullpen. But with the addition of Polanco, their infield appears to be nearly complete.
