Polanco went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old took Mike McGreevy deep in the first inning for the Mets' only run of the afternoon. Polanco is adjusting to a new defensive position at first base, but so far it hasn't impacted him at the plate, and through five spring appearances he's gone 4-for-12 with two homers and a 2:4 BB:K.

Polanco isn't expected to play in any spring games until the second week of the Grapefruit League schedule, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report.

EDGE Analysis

The Mets are bringing a number of key position players along slowly this spring, including Luis Robert, Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty (hamstring). Unlike those three, Polanco doesn't have any serious injury concerns -- he played 138 games in 2025 for the Mariners, his highest total since 2021 -- but the 32-year-old is getting a crash course on defense at first base, so an extra week of drills at the position before he works his way into game situations can only help.

Polanco is a strong candidate to bat cleanup for the Mets this season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Francisco Lindor (hand), Juan Soto and Bo Bichette will occupy the first three spots in the Mets' batting order, so if Polanco does indeed hit cleanup he would be in line for loads of RBI opportunities. Polanco collected a .265/.326/.495 slash line with 26 home runs and 78 RBI over 138 regular-season contests for the Mariners in 2025. He is slated to split time between first base and designated hitter in 2026.

Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets on Saturday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

After posting a career-worst .651 OPS in 2024, Polanco rebounded to the tune of a .265/.326/.495 slash line while logging 26 homers, 78 RBI and 64 runs scored over 524 regular-season plate appearances in 2025. He'll now help bolster the Mets' offense, though he's unlikely to continue playing at the keystone, considering the team traded for Marcus Semien in November. New York may instead utilize Polanco mainly as a DH or shift him to first base to make up for the loss of Pete Alonso.

Polanco declined a $6 million player option with the Mariners for 2026 on Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was an expected decision after Polanco bounced back in 2025 with a .265/.326/.495 batting line and 26 home runs over 138 regular-season contests. Polanco clubbed an additional three long balls during the Mariners' postseason run, and Seattle is likely to make an effort to retain the 32-year-old switch hitter.

Polanco went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's 10-3 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco proved yet again to be a clutch hitter for the Mariners this postseason, launching a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to put his club ahead 6-3. This marks his third long ball of the playoffs, with his previous two coming against Detroit ace Tarik Skubal in Game 2 of the ALDS.

Polanco went 1-for-6 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Tigers on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco drew a walk in the seventh inning before scoring on an RBI single from Leo Rivas to tie the game at two apiece. The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the 15th inning, when Polanco drove a single into right field with the bases loaded to walk off the Tigers and give the M's their first ALCS berth since 2001.

Polanco went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's win over the Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco played hero for the Mariners, putting the team on the board with a home run off Detroit ace Tarik Skubal in the fourth inning and adding another homer against Skubal in the sixth. It's a performance that will long be remembered in Seattle, as Polanco set the stage for the team to eventually take the lead for good in the eighth inning, after it took the loss to Troy Melton and company in Game 1. Polanco finished the regular season with a .329/.380/.634 slash line in September and may have saved the season in the club's second playoff game of 2025.

Polanco went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco's fifth-inning blast gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead. He's homered twice over his last three games and now has 26 long balls on the year, the second-best total of any season in his career. The second baseman has added a .265/.326/.495 slash line with 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, six stolen bases and 30 doubles over 138 contests. He's batting .329 (27-for-821) with 17 extra-base hits across 23 games in September.

Polanco is not in the Mariners' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco will begin Friday's contest on the bench while Cole Young starts at second base and bats ninth. Polanco has been hot at the plate since Sept. 1 with a .329/.375/.608 slash line with three home runs, 13 RBI, 12 doubles and 12 runs scored across 89 plate appearances.