Jorge Polanco Open to Moving to First Base for Mets

The New York Mets are betting big on versatility and offensive upside. They’ve inked veteran infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal, laying the groundwork for him to become their primary first baseman in 2026.

It’s a bold shift for a player with almost no track record at the position. The move sends a clear signal that the club has turned the page on beloved slugger Pete Alonso, who left for Baltimore in free agency.

Jorge Polanco’s Mets Contract Signals a New Era at First Base

The Mets didn’t spend $40 million on a utility piece. They invested in a proven bat they believe can anchor a new-look infield.

Polanco, a 32-year-old switch-hitter, said the organization clearly outlined their plan. He’ll log substantial innings at first base while also moving between second and third as needed.

That role effectively makes him the on-field successor to Pete Alonso, who signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Replacing a fan favorite with a player learning a new position carries risk.

The Mets see the upside in Polanco’s offensive profile and defensive flexibility.

Replacing Pete Alonso’s Presence and Production

Alonso’s exit leaves both an emotional and statistical void in Queens. Polanco won’t replicate Alonso’s raw power, but the Mets are betting that his blend of pop, on-base skills, and switch-hitting balance can soften the blow while offering more lineup flexibility.

In terms of public perception, the Mets will need Polanco to hit early and often. Fans are more likely to embrace a positional experiment when it comes attached to extra-base hits and run production.

From Shortstop to First Base: Polanco’s Defensive Journey

Polanco has been on the defensive move for most of his career. He opened his big-league life at shortstop, shifted to second base, and has recently spent significant time at designated hitter.

Now, the Mets are asking him to make perhaps the most dramatic transition yet. Through 2020, Polanco was primarily a shortstop.

From 2020–2024, he settled in as a second baseman. The Seattle Mariners used him extensively as a designated hitter last season.

First base, though, has been almost entirely foreign territory.

A First Base Resume That’s Essentially a Blank Page

Polanco’s entire first base experience to date boils down to a single pitch in 2024. On April 6, he briefly took over at first for Seattle, only to have a late-inning ball get past him—an error that turned into a walk-off loss for the Mariners.

That moment, while painful, underscored how new the position is for him. Rather than shy away, Polanco used it as a catalyst to get serious about preparation, working behind the scenes on first base fundamentals with trusted instructors.

Seattle’s Work Behind the Scenes: Preparing Polanco for First

Even before the Mets came calling, the idea of Jorge Polanco as a first baseman was already in motion. The Mariners had begun grooming him for a positional change, anticipating that his bat would keep him in the lineup and his athleticism could translate across the diamond.

Seattle coaches Manny Acta and Perry Hill invested time in teaching Polanco the nuances of first base. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment adjustment—Polanco had already discussed the move with his agent, signaling that he understood where his long-term value might lie.

The Toughest Adjustment: Pickoff Positioning and Footwork

According to Polanco, the most challenging part of the transition is learning where to be—and how to move—on pickoff plays. First base isn’t just about catching throws; it demands precise footwork, timing, and positioning on every play involving the pitcher and the runner.

Polanco believes his background across the infield will help him adapt. His combination of infield instincts and athleticism gives him a foundation that pure first basemen often lack.

The Mets are counting on that to minimize growing pains.

Why the Mets Believe in Polanco’s Bat

The defensive questions are real, but so is Polanco’s offensive pedigree. An All-Star in 2019, he’s already flashed the kind of production that can change a lineup’s shape when he’s healthy and locked in.

He delivered his best power season three years after that All-Star nod. Polanco set career highs with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs.

That type of production is exactly what the Mets envision in the middle of their order, even if the venue and role have changed.

2025 with Seattle: Proof He Can Still Produce

Polanco’s 2025 campaign with the Mariners reinforced the notion that his bat remains a difference-maker. Over 138 games, he posted:

Those numbers are more than serviceable for a first baseman, especially one hitting from both sides of the plate. For the Mets, that combination of power, gap-to-gap ability, and on-base skills justifies the positional gamble.

What Polanco’s Move Means for the Mets’ Future

The Mets’ decision to hand first base to Jorge Polanco in 2026 is about more than just filling a vacancy. It shows a bigger plan: they want lineup versatility, more athleticism, and they’re betting their coaches can help Polanco settle in on defense.

If Polanco adjusts well in the field and keeps hitting, the Mets might’ve landed a smart, affordable fix at first base. That would also let them shuffle the infield as needed.

But if he struggles, you just know the Alonso talk will get louder. Either way, this move’s going to be one of the stories everyone’s watching as the Mets head into a new chapter.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Versatile Polanco willing to move to 1B for Mets