The Tampa Bay Rays made a serious run at Jorge Polanco in free agency, but ultimately came up short as the veteran infielder inked a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets. According to reporting from Ken Rosenthal, the Rays were outbid by New York, but not without a clear plan in place: Tampa Bay saw Polanco as a versatile piece who could rotate between first, second, third base, and designated hitter.
That pursuit says a lot about the Rays’ current mindset. For a team known for its tight budget and creative roster construction, targeting a proven, switch-hitting veteran like Polanco shows a willingness to spend when the fit is right. This wasn’t just a casual inquiry - Tampa Bay had a vision for how Polanco could elevate their lineup, particularly from the left side of the plate.
Offensively, Polanco would’ve addressed one of the Rays’ most glaring issues: production against left-handed pitching. In 2025, Tampa Bay posted a wRC+ of just 85 against southpaws, putting them in the bottom third of the league.
Polanco, meanwhile, crushed lefties to the tune of a 150 wRC+ last season and owns a career mark of 100 - not elite, but certainly above average and trending up. Add in his ability to switch-hit and play multiple infield positions, and it’s easy to see why the Rays were interested.
Beyond the matchup advantages, Polanco would’ve provided lineup stability and veteran leadership. He’s been in the league since 2014, debuting at just 20 years old, and has built a solid résumé over the years - mostly with the Minnesota Twins.
Across his career, he’s slashed .263/.330/.442 with 154 home runs, a 112 wRC+, and 18.3 fWAR. In 2025, he enjoyed arguably his best offensive season with the Mariners, hitting .265/.326/.495 with 26 homers, a 132 wRC+, and 2.6 fWAR.
That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially for a Rays team that might be preparing to shake up its infield. With Brandon Lowe and Yandy Díaz both rumored as potential trade chips, Polanco could’ve served as a plug-and-play option across the dirt - giving Tampa Bay both flexibility and a potent bat.
But now, with Polanco heading to Queens, the Rays will have to pivot. Whether that means reigniting trade talks for someone like Ketel Marte - a name that surfaced during the Winter Meetings - or exploring the remaining free agent market, Tampa Bay’s intent is clear: they’re looking to add offense, and they’re willing to spend to do it.
Polanco may be off the board, but the Rays’ offseason is far from over.