Shut Down Jorge Polanco

[Centerfield]

It occurs to me. Why are we even playing him?  He’s struggling. He’s hurt. Mauricio is playing well in Syracuse. 
 

Shut down Polanco and let him get healthy for next year. Let’s give Ronny some consistent ABs. 

[MFS62]

Even if he would be healthy, the Mets need a net increase of about 50 rbi over Polanco’s best years for a first baseman. Acquiring a slugging first baseman should be a high priority in the off season. I don’t think Clifford is the one. In the past good hitters moved to first base. But I don’t think Soto. ( with all his muscle problems) could do that. His destiny is DH .

later

[Gwreck]

I thought he was healthy enough to play and thus these last couple months are an important chance for him to get reps so the Mets can figure out what they have with him.

If he’s not healthy though?  Agree, straight to the IL.  In any circumstance, the Mets had better not be assuming that Polanco will be one of the 9 starters in 2027.

 

[Benjamin Grimm]

I saw (but couldn't read because of a paywall) a New York Post article saying that the Mets may be interested in Japanese third baseman Teruaki Sato, who they would convert to first base. Lefty hitter, would play next year at age 28. Hit 40 homers in 2025, has 27 so far this season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Maybe Teruaki Sato deserves his own thread.

[Centerfield]

1 hour ago, Gwreck said:

I thought he was healthy enough to play and thus these last couple months are an important chance for him to get reps so the Mets can figure out what they have with him.

If he’s not healthy though?  Agree, straight to the IL.  In any circumstance, the Mets had better not be assuming that Polanco will be one of the 9 starters in 2027.

 

He certainly doesn't seem to be healthy.  He can't play the field.  And he's stiff.  Like those mid 50s guys that play softball.  I guess if this is him healthy, then that's a bigger problem.

I feel like Polanco is a guy who's shown us what he is.  When healthy, he's a guy that will give you a mid to upper 700s OPS, and will play multiple positions, but none of them well.  When he's not healthy, he's not productive.  And he's usually not healthy.  Even in 2025, his "healthy" season, he only played 138 games.

I don't think anything he does these last 40 games should change how we view him for 2027.  And I agree it's foolish to count on him as a starter.  I think the focus should be to get him as healthy as possible, and hope he manages to stay on the field for 100 games or so.  

[Gwreck]

The corollary to this thread might be that when he’s healthy, Soto should be getting time at first base.

[Centerfield]

Yup.  I can definitely get behind that.  You can even make up some bullshit excuse to justify it.  "Keep pressure off his calf" etc.  

If we're opening up this thread to all suggestions, mine would be:

1. Shut down Jorge Polanco.  Get him healthy for 2027

2. Shut down (or bench) Marcus Semien.  We know what he is.  We're just wasting ABs on him.

3.  Ronny Mauricio plays every day.

4.  Juan Soto at 1B.  Let's see what he looks like.

5.  Tell Francisco Alvarez to forget about framing.  Concentrate all efforts on catching or blocking every pitch.

[MFS62]

I'm not sold on moving Soto to first. He's so muscle bound , he's tight. I'm afraid he'd pull a hammy (or something else) stretching for a throw and be out for an extended period of time.

They  have to keep his bat in the lineup. I'd rather stash him at DH and not have to worry.

Later