Jorge Polanco’s season is over.
The Mets placed the first baseman/DH on the 10-day IL with left ankle bursitis, and Andy Green said Polanco will undergo surgery. Green also made clear the issue had become impossible to push through, saying Polanco “can’t get freedom from the pain”, which he has been playing through.
Polanco’s Mets stint never really got the chance to settle in. The club signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal with the idea that he would handle first base, but injuries kept knocking him off track.
He first hit the IL during the team’s 12-game losing streak in April with a right wrist contusion, and the ankle problem lingered long enough to interrupt his rehab assignment in June. He finally came back on July 7, but the production never matched the expectation.
Before that initial injury, Polanco was hitting .179/.246/.286 with one homer and a 51 wRC+ in 61 plate appearances over 14 games. After returning, the line got even colder: .123/.169/.190 with one homer and a -1 wRC+ in 84 plate appearances across 23 games. That stretch also included a career-worst 0-for-26 skid.
Polanco has one year left on his contract, though what his role will be with the Mets remains unclear.
The roster shuffle around his IL move included a call-up for Eric Wagaman to help replace his bat. Jack Weisenburger, who pitched in last night’s game, was sent down, and right-handed reliever Chayce McDermott was added to the bullpen.
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