After seeing the lineup lose Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo this offseason, the Mets made their first addition to the offense, signing Jorge Polanco to a two-year deal worth $40 million, The Post confirmed.
The 32-year-old Polanco spent the previous two seasons in Seattle and last year had 26 homers, an OPS of .821 and a career-high OPS-plus of 134.
Polanco played 38 games at second base last season, but primarily served as a DH for the Mariners.
He was at second base in 112 games in 2024.
The switch-hitter will replace at least some of the power lost by Alonso signing with Baltimore and Nimmo having been traded to Texas.
Marcus Semien, who the Mets acquired in exchange for Nimmo, is among the best defensive second basemen in the majors, so Polanco is expected to serve mainly as a first baseman and DH, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.
But Polanco, a shortstop earlier in his career with the Twins, has played just one game in his major league career at first.
The signing of Polanco is another significant move in what’s been an offseason of change in Queens following their second half collapse last year that cost them a spot in the playoffs.
They also saw Edwin Diaz sign with the Dodgers and figure to have Devin Williams, signed to a three-year, $51 million deal earlier in the offseason, serve as the closer after watching him struggle in the same role with the Yankees last season.
The Mets remain in the market for another outfielder, as well as help in the rotation and bullpen, since they lost sidearmer Tyler Rogers to the Blue Jays in a free agent deal.
