Jorge

Polanco

For those of you hoping Polanco would slide right into first base eligibility, it’s good news. Polanco seems like a good bet to hit in the middle of the Mets order and, if he hits, will have plenty of RBI chances behind Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, and Juan Soto.

It was just Polanco’s fourth game this spring, as the Mets don’t want to overwork him while trying to teach him the finer points of playing first base. Polanco figures to prove at least adequate defensively. Still, in part to preserve his legs, he might see a lot of time at DH, with Brett Baty playing first.

One can’t help but wonder if a Polanco addition would have been followed by a Brandon Lowe subtraction, as the Rays are pretty well set with Junior Caminero at third, Yandy Diaz at DH and Jonathan Aranda at first (at least against right-handers). Lowe will make $11.5 million next season before becoming a free agent. The Pirates are believed to be interested in him, and some other teams might jump in after Brandon Donovan is traded.

The deal is now official. Mets president David Stearns confirmed Polanco will split time between first base and DH in addition to bouncing around to other infield positions as needed. The 32-year-old veteran is coming off a resurgence this past season with the Mariners where he slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs, 78 RBI and six steals over 524 plate appearances across 138 games, his highest single-season total since 2021. The omnipresent durability concerns aren’t going to vanish, but it’s a phenomenal landing spot on a short-term deal. With eligibility at second base, one of the thinnest positions in the fantasy landscape, Polanco quietly carries late-round intrigue thanks to his counting-stats upside in New York’s strong lineup.

Polanco makes a ton of sense as a short-term first base and DH stopgap option for the Mets in the aftermath of losing middle-of-the-order force Pete Alonso to the Orioles earlier this week. Durability will always be the caveat — chronic knee issues have limited him at an average of just 118 games per season over the last four years — but last year’s resurgence with the Mariners was real, as he produced a robust .821 OPS with 26 homers and six steals across 138 games. With eligibility at second base, one of the thinnest positions in the fantasy landscape, Polanco quietly carries late-round intrigue thanks to his counting-stats upside in New York’s strong lineup.

Divish and Jude add that Polanco is seeking a four-year contract, while the Mariners are believed to have offered the switch-hitting 32-year-old second baseman a two-year deal. A reunion makes plenty of sense for both sides after he delivered a strong bounce-back last season, posting an .821 OPS with 26 homers and six steals across 138 games. Still, his checkered injury history makes it difficult to envision another club stepping up to meet his current asking price, leaving Seattle as the most logical landing spot unless the market shifts dramatically.

It was originally an $8 million mutual option, but it converted into a $6 million player option once Polanco reached 450 plate appearances last season. After a strong bounce-back campaign that saw him hit .265/.326/.495, Polanco figures to command at least a two-year deal as a free agent this winter.

Naylor, who is batting .341 (15-for-44) with three homers this postseason, has been moved up in Seattle’s lineup with Jorge Polanco dropped to the cleanup spot as they attempt to make the World Series for the first time in the franchise’s 49-year history. The only other significant change involves Victor Robles in right field in place of Dominic Canzone. Here’s the full lineup: Julio Rodríguez (CF), Cal Raleigh (C), Naylor (1B), Polanco (DH), Randy Arozarena (LF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), J.P. Crawford (SS), Leo Rivas (2B) and Robles (RF).

Rivas started in Game 4 with Victor Robles shifting to the bench and that’s the same alignment that the M’s will use against Kevin Gausman on Friday evening. Here’s the full lineup: Julio Rodríguez (CF), Cal Raleigh (C), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Randy Arozarena (LF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), J.P. Crawford (SS), Dominic Canzone (RF) and Rivas (2B).

Rivas will get his first postseason start with a struggling Victor Robles heading to the bench as Seattle tries to mix some things up following a Game 3 rout at the hands of the Blue Jays. Here’s the full lineup: Randy Arozarena (LF), Cal Raleigh (C), Julio Rodríguez (CF), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Eugenio Suárez (3B), Dominic Canzone (RF), J.P. Crawford (SS) and Rivas (2B).