The New York Mets shelled out a whopping $40 million for Jorge Polanco on a two-year deal, and Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer went ahead and named him their worst player of the entire 2026 season. Yeah, you read that right: worst player.
A Head-Scratching Position Switch for Big Money
The Mets’ plan to replace Pete Alonso after he signed with the Baltimore Orioles was definitely a head-scratcher. They brought in Polanco for $40 million over two years to play first base, hoping to improve their run prevention. The thing is, Polanco had zero experience at first. He spent almost his entire career playing the middle infield spots. It was a huge gamble to put him at first, and it just didn’t pay off, not by a long shot. Mets fans, according to Rymer, were definitely “not convinced” by the move.
A Dismal First Season and Season-Ending Injury
Polanco’s first season in Queens was, to put it mildly, rough. He finished with a .148 batting average, a .201 on-base percentage, and a .230 slugging line over 145 plate appearances. Those are dismal numbers, period. He earned $20 million for the year and managed a -1.9 bWAR. Ouch. To make matters worse, Polanco underwent season-ending ankle surgery in August. While Rymer did consider right-hander Kodai Senga for the “worst player” title, Senga found his footing with solid results after moving to the bullpen, leaving Polanco in the unenviable spot.
What This Means for the Mets’ 2027 Season
So, what’s next for the Mets and this $40 million investment? If Polanco’s 2027 season is anything like his 2026 campaign, the team is in some serious trouble. They paid All-Star money for historically bad production and a negative WAR. Based on this year’s results, it seems pretty clear they’d be wise to target a new first baseman in free agency. This isn’t just about a bad season for Polanco, it’s a huge question mark hanging over the Mets’ roster and their payroll for next year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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