There was a time this season when it seemed the Mets were waiting to get their high-priced, veteran players healthy in order to get them in the lineup and make a run at salvaging the season. Jorge Polanco was a part of that group when he went down with a right wrist contusion on April 14. But by the time he finally returned to the Mets on Tuesday night at Citi Field, Polanco had become a face of everything that’s gone wrong for the team this year.
Polanco, now 33 years old, was signed to a two-year, $40 million contract as a key piece of an offseason roster overhaul that saw the arrivals of Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr., among others, along with the departures of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. The front office gambled on a blend of power, defense and veteran leadership, hoping to build a lineup that could compete with the likes of the Braves and Phillies in the NL East. Instead, the results have been catastrophic.
By the time Polanco returned, the Mets were mired in last place, 15 games under .500, with a new manager, Andy Green, at the helm after the firing of Buck Showalter in May. Polanco’s own struggles have been emblematic of the team’s broader issues: injuries, underperformance, and a lack of cohesion. He was initially sidelined by the wrist injury, but the bigger problem has been Achilles bursitis that plagued him all season and kept him on the injured list for nearly three months.
“I’m feeling good,” Polanco said upon his return. “I’m excited to be here. Grateful to be back.” Yet the reality is that Polanco is still not fully recovered. He is limited to DH duties, at least in the short term, and there is no telling when he might be able to play the field again. “We’re most excited about his bat right now,” interim manager Andy Green said before the game. “If he ends up at first base as time goes on, that would be great. His bat has a lot of value for us.”
Polanco’s bat has indeed been valuable historically. Over his 12-year career, he has posted a .273/.346/.441 slash line with 184 home runs and 730 RBIs. He was an All-Star in 2019 with the Twins, finishing seventh in AL MVP voting after hitting .295 with 22 homers and 107 RBIs. His ability to switch-hit and play multiple infield positions made him a coveted free agent last winter. But injuries have taken a toll. In 2024, he missed significant time with a knee issue, and 2025 was cut short by a hamstring strain. Now, 2026 has been a nightmare.
The Mets signed Polanco expecting him to be a steady presence in the middle of the lineup, providing power and on-base ability. Instead, he has played in just 18 games this season, hitting .221 with two home runs and seven RBIs. While he insists his Achilles discomfort is “improving,” Polanco acknowledged that he is unsure if he will need any kind of procedure following the season. “You can’t control it,” he said of the injuries. “You want to be there and I want to help the team. I was just trying to get healthy and I’m back here now, so I am happy.”
The Mets’ season has been a disaster on multiple fronts. The offense ranks 27th in runs scored, the pitching staff has a 4.78 ERA (third-worst in the National League), and the defense has been porous, committing the most errors in the majors. The team’s big-money free agents have largely failed: Bo Bichette is hitting just .261 with 10 homers, Marcus Semien has a .308 on-base percentage, and Luis Robert Jr. remains sidelined with a hip injury. The departures of fan favorites Alonso, Nimmo and McNeil have left a void in the clubhouse that has been impossible to fill.
Polanco’s return does little to solve the Mets’ fundamental problems. His presence at DH will likely limit the time other players, such as Francisco Alvarez, get at the position. Alvarez and Luis Torrens have split time behind the plate, with Alvarez occasionally at DH, a combination “that probably lessens to some degree now,” according to Green. Green also pointed to the value of having a switch-hitter on the bench, but that was not the scenario the Mets envisioned when they brought in Polanco, hoping he could be part of a revamped lineup offering more flexibility on defense.
The Mets’ front office, led by general manager Billy Eppler, faces tough questions in the coming weeks. The team is on pace to lose 95 games, and trade rumors have already begun swirling around players like Bichette and closer Edwin Díaz. Polanco’s contract, with one year remaining at $20 million, could be a difficult sell on the trade market given his health issues. For now, he is focused on contributing however he can. “I’m just trying to get healthy and I’m back here now, so I am happy,” Polanco said. “Whether I can get the Mets out of their malaise is a different matter.”
Polanco’s return also brings into focus the broader issues that have plagued the Mets organization for years. Despite a massive payroll, the team has not won a playoff series since 2015. The farm system is ranked near the bottom of the league, and the club’s reliance on expensive veterans has backfired spectacularly. Owner Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend has not translated into sustained success, and fans are growing restless. The sellout streak at Citi Field ended in May, and attendance has dropped 15 percent from last season.
On the field, the Mets have struggled in nearly every facet. The starting rotation, headlined by Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (both acquired in 2023 trade deadlines), has been decimated by injuries. Scherzer has made only 12 starts due to a strained oblique, while Verlander has been inconsistent, posting a 4.21 ERA. The bullpen, once a strength, has blown 17 saves. Offensively, the Mets rank near the bottom in batting average with runners in scoring position, and their strikeout rate is the highest in the league.
Polanco’s minor league rehab assignment was a mixed bag. In 15 games with Triple-A Syracuse, he hit .279 with three home runs and nine RBIs, but he also struck out 18 times in 61 at-bats. He reported feeling “more good days than bad days” in terms of his Achilles, which prompted the decision to bring him back to the majors. Still, the Mets are being cautious. Green indicated that Polanco will not play back-to-back games initially, and his defensive work will be limited to pregame drills.
The veteran infielder’s career arc has been one of resilience. Originally signed by the Twins out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, he debuted in 2014 and quickly established himself as a reliable middle infielder. He played a key role in the Twins’ division titles in 2019, 2020 and 2023, earning a reputation as a clutch hitter. His move to the Mets was supposed to be a new chapter, but so far it has been a chapter of frustration.
“It’s been frustrating,” Polanco admitted. “You can’t control it. You want to be there and I want to help the team. I was just trying to get healthy and I’m back here now, so I am happy.” His return may not turn around the Mets’ season, but it provides a glimpse of what might have been—and what still might be, if he can stay on the field.
As the Mets continue to slide, Polanco’s presence is a reminder that even the best-laid plans can go awry. The team’s offseason overhaul was built on the promise of health and production, but injuries and underperformance have turned a potential contender into a punchline. Polanco’s comeback, while welcome, is too little, too late for a team that is already looking toward next year—and the difficult decisions that lie ahead.
Source:Yahoo Sports News