Jorge Polanco: Mets First Base Opportunity

NEW YORK (AP) — Jorge Polanco’s experience at first base came down to one pitch, when San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores hit a sinker off the end of his bat to right field in the ninth inning of a tied game on April 6.

“It’s like they always say, every time you get in the game, the ball always finds you,” Polanco recalled through a translator on Monday. “When the ball was hit, I thought it was coming right at me.”

Flores’ hit was too far into second base for Polanco to have a chance and gave San Francisco a walk-off victory over Seattle.

First base appears to be Polanco’s primary position next year as Pete Alonso’s replacement, following Polanco’s decision to sign a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets.

“I was offering my services to teams as a first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, so when the Mets asked if I could do that, play a little first base, play a little third base, I was definitely willing to do it,” Polanco said in a Zoom news conference.

Alonso, a fan favorite and five-time All-Star, left the Mets as a free agent for a five-year, $155 million contract with Baltimore.

When asked if he expects first base to be his primary position, Polanco responded, “I think so… They told me he’d play a fair amount of first base, but he might rotate in as well.”

A 32-year-old switch-hitter who has hit .260 against righties and .270 against lefties, Polanco was an All-Star in 2019 and set personal bests three years later when he had 33 home runs and 98 RBIs.

He was primarily a shortstop until 2020 and then a second baseman from 2020 to 2024. Last year, he started primarily as a designated hitter for the Mariners, who were one win away from their first trip to the World Series.

Mariners bench coach Manny Acta and infield coach Perry Hill reached out to Polanco this year to prepare him to play first base.

“It was very easy because I had already talked to my agent about starting to work at first base and trying to become a more versatile baseball player,” Polanco said. “So when we approached them, they were essentially approaching us at the same time. So it was really easy and a very smooth transition.”

Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, 30 doubles and an .821 OPS in 138 games for Seattle last season, his second with the Mariners after a decade with Minnesota.

Although he didn’t get to start at first base, he found working with the coaches invaluable.

“The biggest difference is the position you put yourself in to receive the pickoffs,” he said. “That was the hardest transition for me because it’s so different from when you’re playing in the middle of the infield. But I think with my experience playing second, short, third, it allows me to be an athlete and I think my athleticism will help me as I play first base.”

Hours after Polanco spoke to reporters, the Mets announced a deal with reliever Luke Weaver. The former Yankees right-hander agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract last week, subject to a successful physical.

“Over the past few seasons, Luke has emerged as one of the most reliable pressure relievers in baseball and we are excited to add him to our bullpen,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a news release. “Luke’s material, combined with his experience in high-pressure situations in New York, sets him up well for success in the future.”

Weaver will receive a $3 million signing bonus, payable upon Major League Baseball’s approval of the contract, and salaries of $8 million next year and $11 million in 2027.

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