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

[Edgy MD]

Barry Bonds, among others, has taught me that not every corner outfielder hitting star is just going to go to first base.

Fortunately for the Mets at the current time, as compared to the Giants of the early aughts, there is DH as an alternative.

Unfortunately, with a bad-outfielding Soto, a bad-legs Polanco, and a not-as-good-at-catching-as-Torrens Alvarez, the DH option is getting to be a crowded alternative.

My guess is that Soto opens 2027 as a DH/sometimes leftifielder, Alvarez as a catcher/sometimes DH, and Polanco as a reserve.

[The Hot Corner]

Personally, I can't imagine Soto transitioning to first base going well defensively.  .  I suspect a great percentage of the bounced/short-hop throws to first base would turn into errors for Lindor and Bichette.  I just don't see Soto digging them out.  He just strikes me as rather apathetic about defense.

Stick him at DH (with some time in LF) and let him do what he does best, hit.

[smg58]

I've never felt like Mauricio has gotten a fair shake.  You can't exactly argue that his path is being blocked by too many infielders having solid seasons for us.

As for Polanco, you call a Mulligan and start over.  Maybe a year of barely playing will get him healthy enough to be a useful bat-first reserve who can move around the infield.  But I wouldn't plan around him being more than that.   

[Centerfield]

The Mets have shut down Jorge Polanco. Surgery next. 
 

I don’t see why they wouldn’t call up Mauricio now. 

[smg58]

I'm annoyed by this, because it was clear enough for more than long enough that something was getting in the way of Polanco doing, well, pretty much anything on a baseball field.  The guy was in chronic pain and couldn't play through it.  But at least the team is acknowledging the obvious and acting in his, and their own, best interests.

[The Hot Corner]

1 hour ago, smg58 said:

I'm annoyed by this, because it was clear enough for more than long enough that something was getting in the way of Polanco doing, well, pretty much anything on a baseball field.  The guy was in chronic pain and couldn't play through it.  But at least the team is acknowledging the obvious and acting in his, and their own, best interests.

Finally.  Better late, than never.