Jorge Signs

[Centerfield]

Mets sign Jorge Polanco.

2 years. $40 million.

Switch hitting utility IF/DH type.

32 years old.

[Centerfield]

If he’s healthy, the bat could be good enough to replace Nimmo. His defense doesn’t do much for the “run prevention” philosophy.

Short term deal fits Stearns.

[MFS62]

If he’s healthy, the bat could be good enough to replace Nimmo.

 

Good signing.

Later

[Centerfield]

$20M per year appears to be more than expected. MLB trade rumors had him at 3 years, $42M.

Looks like Stearns went less years, more AAV.

[metirish]

Mostly an infielder? What's going on here ? Bad news for Jeff and Mark ?

[metirish]

With the Mets, Polanco — pending a physical — will mostly play first base, potentially designated hitter, and will provide insurance around the rest of the infield because of his versatility, league sources said.

Sammon

Over his 12-year career, Polanco has logged a total of 0 innings at first base. David Stearns has done this in the past. For example, while in Milwaukee and after signing Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong, he moved Keston Hiura to first base.

Sammon

[MFS62]

Playing a middle infielder at first sounds like his way of improving infield defense.

Later

[Centerfield]

Salary is 2/3 of what they offered Alonso. Contract term is also 2/3 what they were willing to give Alonso.

He hit 26 HRs last year. Roughly 2/3 of Alonso’s 38.

[Lefty Specialist]

Another confusing move from Stearns.

[Edgy MD]

Defensive versatility often is a way of preparing for the ambiguity of what will follow.

[MFS62]

Another confusing move from Stearns.

 

Right now, we need another middle infielder (where Jorge usually plays) like we need a third nostril.

This may mean that another trade(s) will happen. Maybe Mc Squirrel? Mauricio? Acuna?

Later

[ashie62]

I've assumed for some time that McNeil will not not be back

Polanco's role is yet to be divined

[metirish]

Mostly DH and 1st base , apparently

[Chad ochoseis]

- It's not that hard, Jorge. Tell him, Wash.

- It's incredibly hard.

- Hey, anything worth doing is. And we're gonna teach you.

[ashie62]

Jorge is deliciously mediocre

A fill in the numbers signing

Next

[Gwreck]

This is a real head scratcher.

The stated goal is to upgrade the infield defense, but we want a guy who was very bad at playing second base to now move to first base, where he’s never* played before? Really?

Offensively he seems ok.

Discussing this deal with a friend whose response was “It’s one of those moves that I won’t mind so long as they get better players after this,” which is where I am too.

[Centerfield]

That’s where I am too. Offensively, it’s fine. So long as he’s batting 5th or lower. Defensively, hopefully this is our DH. Being a switch hitter, he kinda combines Winker and Marte. The defensive versatility allows Stearns to maybe move McNeil for a useful player, if he’s so inclined. He’s kinda like a better fielding Vientos. So I wonder if Mark is on the block.

If he’s our everyday first baseman and batting third, then that’s no good.

[Gwreck]

Exactly.

This *could* be a good lineup but of course it’s all dependent on what goes in the empty spots:

Lindor SS

____

Soto RF

____

Montero (1B??)

Alvarez C

Baty 3B

Semien 2B

Taylor/Benge CF

[Cowtipper]

Reminds me of signing Cuddyer because he looks like a big-ish name without a real history of big name stats to back it up. This is a very Wilpon-y move—"look guys, we got a big name, too!"

He's been a .242 hitter since 2022 and a .250 hitter since 2020. I like Semien, but now we have low-average Semien, low-average Polanco, likely low-average Baty and Alvarez, low-average McNeil if somehow he survives. No one on the bench has proven to be much more than a .230 hitter so far, though Acuna and Mauricio are still young. Lindor might lead the team with a .268 average next year.

[smg58]

Polanco was off my radar because I wasn't looking at middle infielders, but he really isn't one anymore and he's shown he can hit in a pitcher's park when healthy. The Mariners protected him by DHing him because health had become an issue, so I'm inclined to see him at DH more than at first. He's an upgrade over Marte, at the very least.

[MFS62]

I predict that at least once during this season I will spell or pronounce his name as Polcano.

Later

[metirish]

In a statement announcing the Mets' now-official Jorge Polanco signing, David Stearns said: "As we stand now, we would anticipate Jorge playing first base, DH, and bouncing around to other positions as needed."

DiComo