This off-season has been a whiplash for the New York Mets. They watched their franchise cornerstone walk away and watched as Steve Cohen, their owner, yapped about how ”much of the offseason is left for them to build a playoff contender team.” Focus; it’s not a championship-contending team, that he said. So, morale has been down.

Pete Alonso left for the Baltimore Orioles, Brandon Nimmo was traded to Texas, and Díaz signed with the Dodgers. So a stacked team now felt thin, especially the offense.

Now, finally, New York made its first notable addition at the plate, and it carries extra weight.

The Mets agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with Jorge Polanco, officially stepping into a mildly aggressive off-season that’s mostly been about exits and then arrivals.

But in the process, they beat out a very interested Boston Red Sox team!

Jorge Polanco Contract Details?

Jorge Polanco comes to the Queens after a strong 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners. And that shows you why he was so heavily sought after in the open market.

The 32-year-old switch-hitter hit. 265 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs, finishing with a career-best 134 OPS+. His overall OPS was .821, which also marked his best offensive season ever since his Twins days, so a huge deal.

Plus, he wasn’t just productive; he was also timely and delivered several clutch postseason moments. He homered twice off Tarik Skubal in ALDS Game 2, then sealed the series with a walk-off hit in Game 5. He then drove in two runs in ALCS Game 1 and blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in Game 2 to give Seattle a 2–0 series lead. This is what matters for the Mets team, who have lost plenty of power with Alonso and Nimmo walking out the door.

Sure, Polanco doesn’t replace that kind of production from the get-go, but he brings one thing the team badly needs: stability. Defensively, his role is also expected to be flexible. Polanco has played 38 games at second base in 2025 but was primarily used as a DH, starting 87 games there. He also logged time at third base, and early in his career, he was also a full-time shortstop.

Now, he has just one career MLB game at first base, but the Mets are expected to use him mainly at first and at DH.

How Long Is Jorge Polanco’s New York Contract and Salary Breakdown?

The contract with the New York Mets runs for two years and for $40 million for Jorge Polanco. And that gives him an average annual value of $20 million. And just as important is the fact that there is no draft pick compensation attached. Polanco did not get any qualifying offer from the Seattle Mariners, making this a clean signing for the Mets with no future penalty.

On the financial side, it is not a short-term flyer, nor is it really a mega deal; it’s a meaningful contract. It shows that while the team lost big names this season, they are not content to reset without adding someone impactful.

Now, after a second-half collapse last season that cost them a playoff spot, this move sure does fit into the broader prospect that a roster change is both reactionary and necessary.

Are the Mets finalizing a 2-Year, $40 Million Deal with Jorge Polanco?

Yes, multiple outlets have confirmed that Polanco and the Mets are on the same page about a $40 million, 2-year contract.

The timing makes the move even more critical. Polanco’s deal came just days after Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso left for the Dodgers and Orioles, respectively, leaving the fan base split. This move shows how Stearns and Co. are going about shaping the Mets’ core.

Now with Díaz gone, the Mets are expected to turn to Devin Williams as their closer. He signed a three-year $52 million deal earlier in the offseason. Williams might be asked to handle the ninth inning after struggling in that role with the Yankees last season.

So, amidst all that from losing Alonso, Nimmo, and Díaz in such a short span, the Mets needed something, anything, to steady their sinking roster, and Polanco seems to be the first of many of those steps.

Why Did the Red Sox Let Jorge Polanco Walk to the Mets?

This is where Boston enters the scene.

Polanco was linked to the Boston Red Sox heavily this offseason. Till yesterday, insider Chris Cotillo also mentioned that “The Red Sox remain interested in Jorge Polanco.” Given his switch-hitting profile and versatility, he was seen as the best fit for Boston. Plus, they were looking to add offense without committing long-term. But, unlucky for Boston, the Mets moved quickly.

New York’s two-year deal made Polanco a core piece rather than someone who is a secondary addition. And that urgency the Mets faced might have a lot to do with the signing.

Given Marcus Semien was acquired in the Nimmo trade as one of the best defensive second basemen in the league, the Mets could sell Polanco on a role at first base and DH, even if it requires some positional adjustment.

This signing doesn’t fix everything, but the Mets attempt to stop the bleeding and show that they are not done calling this off-season off, as Steve Cohen mentioned.