We know the way for the Mets, even if there's a long way to go

The procurement of Jorge Polanco and their trade talks with the Pirates are showing us the path forward for the Mets

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• On Saturday, the Mets agreed to sign INF Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract (story)

• The Mets are engaged in trade talks with the Padres for players that include RHP Nick Pivetta, OF Ramón Laureano and relievers Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada - the Padres are interested in the Mets top prospects (Athletic)

• New York is “listening” on RHP Jonah Tong, but view RHP Nolan McLean as off-limits in trade discussions (New York Post)

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Royals have discussed a trade with the Nationals that includes INF CJ Abrams and LHP Mackenzie Gore as well as a trade with the Red Sox for OF Jarren Duran (ESPN)

• RHP Tyler Glasnow has drawn trade interest from other teams (ESPN)

• The Mariners and Giants are the front runners to acquire INF Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals (Athletic)

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The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️

On Saturday morning, Andrew Claudio and Rich MacLeod discussed and reacted to the Mets reportedly signing INF Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE JUST METS PODCAST: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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We know the desired path forward for the Mets now — can they get to the end of the road? ✍️

AP Photo

I wrote on Saturday that we will know the Mets plan for 2026 is in their next move. We didn’t have to wait long to find out what that path is, as they reportedly signed INF Jorge Polanco to a two-year contract on Saturday morning.

Now, the Mets have told people Polanco is going to play first base. How much, remains to be seen. He has logged one appearance at first base in his career; it was last year and it wasn’t for a full inning. But, the Mets apparently feel confident enough in his athleticism that he can transition there at least on a part-time basis, and serve as their designated hitter at other times while being plugged in around the infield. He can play second, third, and shortstop.

He fills a need for the Mets specifically against left-handed pitching. His .888 OPS against southpaws should be a welcome addition for a team that posted a .696 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025. He’s a good hitter overall, although he posted a career-best 134 OPS+ in 2025, 22 points better than his career mark of 112, which is still 12 percent better than league average over his 12-year career. He is apparently a good clubhouse presence, something that we’ve come to learn was a problem in 2025 on multiple fronts.

I do find it interesting though that the Mets— who are touting run prevention as their 2026 campaign message— are willing to put Polanco and his less than 1 inning of experience at first base. That doesn’t exactly fit the bill, and it certainly tells us exactly what they think of Pete Alonso’s defense, doesn’t it?

By all accounts, this is a good signing for the Mets. He doesn’t replace Alonso, he doesn’t replace Nimmo. He isn’t intended to do any of that. And I know this doesn’t satisfy a lot of people, but he’s a part of the new and bigger equation for the Mets. That is to change the dynamic of the lineup, be less top-heavy, improve their defense, get more athletic, improve the temperature of the room, and in turn, improve the team while creating near-term flexibility. It’s one piece in a larger and hopefully better puzzle, if you will.

There is still a large portion of this puzzle that needs to be solved. But this is a positive move for a team needing positive news.

They need someone else who can play first base, it seems all but certain now they will try and find a taker for Jeff McNeil, they need a primary corner outfielder and at least a platoon partner for Tyrone Taylor in centerfield, they need an entire bullpen more or less, and they need two starting pitchers while trimming the fat around the bottom of the roster.

There’s a long way to go, but we know the way, at least. Like it or not.

That brings me to the other part of the buzz that came out of Saturday’s rumor mill, which is that the Mets are talking to the Padres about some trade significant scenarios to help fill these gaping roster holes.

According to The Athletic, the Mets are talking with the Padres about RHP Nick Pivetta, OF Ramón Laureano, and relievers Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and Jeremiah Estrada. That’s a big starting pitcher, an outfielder, a closer, and two other setup-type arms for the bullpen. But, the Mets’ top prospects are in these discussions, according to the report. Nolan McLean has been labeled as all but untouchable, but the others are apparently in play, including Jonah Tong, according to the New York Post.

New York Post

Apparently, neither Fernando Tatís Jr. nor Francisco Lindor are involved in these discussions, which basically squelches the rumors which percolated about that on Friday. But, with the Padres and AJ Preller, you always know he’s looking to make headline-making trades. So, you never know, although such a scenario would not solve San Diego’s payroll problem.

Now, before everyone goes nuts over this and starts to fantasize, if anything materializes from these conversations between the Padres and the Mets, it probably won’t come out exactly like this. But, word on the street is the Mets really like Miller (what’s not to like?), and they were interested in acquiring him from the A’s last summer before San Diego got him. So, I think this is worth watching. The Padres gave up a top 5 prospect for him, so it stands to reason why the Mets’ top prospects are involved in whatever these conversations are.

Miller, 27, is a super-two arbitration-eligible player in 2026. He is one of the hardest throwers in baseball and is as elite as elite relievers come, unquestionably keeping company with Edwin Díaz. Miller has a devastating slider and had an average fastball velocity of 101.2 mph in 2025. The only real issue for Miller has been the walks, but Miller has struck out 39.5 percent of hitters he’s faced in his career, compared to Díaz striking out 40.4 percent of hitters he faced while with the Mets.

So yeah, that’s really close.

We will see how this evolves, but the cost would be considerable for Miller. He’s controllable for four more years, he would indisputably be more cost-effective than an elite closer or setup man in free agency, he’s young and has even more upside than what he’s already shown in the early part of his career. So, there’s a lot of value here, and the Mets now have enough high-quality prospects where they can afford to make this kind of deal now and have enough to make another significant deal elsewhere, if they choose.

Sure, you can argue they should’ve just signed Díaz, but they didn’t so that’s that. It can also be argued an acquiring team for Miller will get more over the same period from him than the Dodgers will for Díaz because of the age factor.

Nobody knows if or how much of that will true, of course - we will know in three years when Diaz’s contract expires with the Dodgers. But, with the Mets reported interest in Miller, they’re clearly trying to replace Díaz as best they can for 2026. Which is a good idea and this would unquestionably be as close to a 1-for-1 move as they can make.

My take is, the Mets would probably want to get Miller along with another piece from San Diego’s list of available players, such as Pivetta or Laureano, and not have to make another deal in the process even if it costs them more in prospect capital.

Pivetta, 32, would certainly fit the bill for what they’re looking for in the rotation with a modest salary ($19.75 million) in 2026 and up to three years of control, although he can opt out of his original four-year, $55 million contract after the 2026 and 2027 season, something he would surely do a year from now if he puts up another big year like he did in 2025. He did pitch to some good fortunes in 2025 as indicated by his 3.49 FIP compared to his 2.87 ERA, and while he doesn’t throw hard and get that elite swing-and-miss, his fastball is still very effective as are his breaking pitches.

Imagn Images

He wouldn’t come with the same albatross of a contract that someone like Framber Valdez would, and Pivetta’s salary makes it a no-brainer for the Mets to go out and find another starting pitcher as well.

Now, that’s just me spitballing. It’s hard for these deals to come together, especially with the Padres who weave a very tangled web in their trade discussions every single year. We will see if there’s a permutation here the two clubs can agree on.

From my seat, it’s a better idea for the Mets to trade for the pitching they need and buy the bats, if they can match up on a deal for the assets they seek. I’ve always believed that because of the risk with second-generation contracts for starting pitching specifically. They have the prospects to get a Miller-like arm for the bullpen, but they have to not only weigh the risk involved in dealing a big prospect to get him, but to actually challenge their own comfort zone and make a deal they can live with for the roster spot they’re looking to fill in the way they’re at least thinking about doing it.

But, one thing is for certain - between the acquisition of Polanco and the names being discussed between the Mets and Padres, the Mets are looking to make an immediate transition of the brand of baseball they play and at least attempt to put a contender on the field in 2026.

Whether they can do that or not and get the necessary pieces to do that or not remains to be seen.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Tigers signed RHP Kenley Jansen to a one-year, $11 million contract (ESPN)

• The Yankees brought back former Met INF Amed Rosario on a one-year, $2.5 million contract (YES Network)

• The Cardinals signed RHP Dustin May to a major league contract (The Athletic)