The New York Mets reached an agreement with infielder Jorge Polanco on a two-year contract worth $40 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Polanco is reportedly expected to primarily play first base and DH for the Mets in an effort to help fill the void left by Pete Alonso, who recently signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
Polanco primarily played DH and second base in for the Seattle Mariners in 2025. He's played one game at first base in his 12-year MLB career.
The 32-year-old switch-hitter slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs in 2025. His .821 OPS was the highest he's posted in a season since 2021, and the third-highest of his career.
Returning to the Mariners was Polanco's No. 1 choice, and he was "very torn" on the decision to leave, reports The Seattle Times' Adam Jude. Seattle was "very competitive" in the sweepstakes, one source said, but while the Mariners matched the Mets' offer on length, they came up short on the dollars, another source told Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
Outside factors also helped sway Polanco to the Mets. His father lives in New York, and the chance to be closer to him during the season apparently played a role in his decision, Kramer reports.
Cole Young and Leo Rivas currently project to split time at second base for the Mariners in the absence of Polanco.
Polanco could serve as the primary protection for Juan Soto in the Mets' lineup. In addition to losing Alonso, New York traded away a middle-of-the-order-bat in Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien earlier in the offseason.
