The New York Mets’ decision to bring Jorge Polanco into the fold signals more than just a lineup tweak-it’s a roster reshaping move with ripple effects that are hard to ignore. Slated to log time at first base and designated hitter, Polanco’s arrival tightens the infield picture and effectively nudges a few players out of the frame for 2026. Chief among them: Jeff McNeil.
Let’s be clear-McNeil and Polanco aren’t carbon copies of each other, but they operate in overlapping lanes. Both are versatile infielders with second base as their primary home, yet their offensive profiles diverge.
McNeil, when he’s right, is a contact-first hitter with a knack for batting average and on-base skills. Polanco, on the other hand, brings more pop, albeit with a less consistent approach at the plate.
The Mets seem to be betting on power and positional flexibility at the corners, which gives Polanco the edge in this roster equation.
That leaves McNeil in a tough spot. His name has been floating around the trade rumor mill for a while, and this move only amplifies the noise.
Could he theoretically stick around in a utility role? Sure.
But that’s easier said than done. McNeil has been an everyday player for most of his Mets tenure, and it’s hard to imagine he’d be thrilled about a reduced role-especially one that might not offer regular at-bats.
And from the Mets’ perspective, using a roster spot on a player without a clear path to playing time doesn’t exactly scream “efficient roster construction.”
What’s interesting is that Polanco’s signing could indirectly boost McNeil’s trade value. Teams that were eyeing Polanco-his former club, the Seattle Mariners, among them-might now pivot toward McNeil as a fallback option. He’s a proven big leaguer, even if his recent production has dipped.
And that’s the crux of the issue: McNeil hasn’t looked like himself for a couple of seasons now. His 2025 campaign ended on a sour note, and any team acquiring him would be doing so with tempered expectations.
At this point, he profiles more as a bottom-of-the-order bat who can offer defensive versatility, rather than the All-Star caliber player Mets fans saw in the past. His current trajectory suggests he’s more likely to be a stopgap than a long-term solution-especially with a club option looming after 2026.
Ultimately, this move by the Mets isn’t just about what Polanco brings-it’s about what the team no longer needs. And as of now, it looks like McNeil’s role in Queens has all but vanished.