Ballot: Is Bo Bichette Or Jorge Polanco The Higher Worth For The Mets?

As a part of their offseason overhaul, the Mets introduced in Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco to bolster their infield. Polanco obtained a two-year, $40MM deal in December. Bichette, one of many high free brokers, signed a three-year, $126MM pact in January with opt-outs after 2026 and 2027. Crucially, Bichette and Polanco will probably be taking part in new positions. The previous will man the new nook, whereas Polanco will break up time between first base and DH.

Between the 2, Bichette is the superior offensive expertise. Aside from an injury-plagued 2024 season by which he solely performed 81 video games, Bichette has been no less than 20% higher than common by wRC+ in each marketing campaign since 2019. Final 12 months, he tied for the Twenty fifth-lowest strikeout price (14.5%) amongst 145 certified hitters within the league. His general line was .314/.357/.483 was good for a 134 wRC+, the most effective full-season mark in his profession.

Polanco is coming off his personal profession season. In 524 plate appearances with the Mariners, he hit .265/.326/.495 with a 132 wRC+ that almost matched Bichette’s efficiency. Polanco additionally minimize his strikeout price in half, going from 29.2% in 2024 to fifteen.6% in 2025. His monitor file earlier than 2025 was strong, if a step under Bichette. From 2019-24, Polanco may usually be counted on for 15-25% better-than-average offense, with 2020 (82 wRC+) and 2024 (93 wRC+) being exceptions.

Neither one in every of them is a robust defender. Bichette has solely performed shortstop in the course of the common season, solely venturing to second base in the course of the 2025 World Collection (and solely as a result of he was injured). His vary graded out in simply the primary percentile in 2025, whereas Statcast took detrimental views of his arm energy and dash velocity as effectively. Total, his glovework was valued at -12 Defensive Runs Saved and -13 Outs Above Common, the latter being a career-worst mark. It at all times appeared that he would transfer to a unique place long-term, and now the Mets will slot him in on the sizzling nook. On the one hand, that is smart given the acquisition of defensive stalwart Marcus Semien to man the keystone. Nonetheless, it’s questionable in that Bichette sometimes struggles on balls in play from right-handed hitters, which he’ll see in abundance at third base.

In the meantime, Polanco started his profession as a shortstop however has solely performed second and third base because the begin of 2023. In 2024, he was price -1 DRS and -10 OAA as a full-time second baseman. In 2025, he mixed for -4 DRS and -4 OAA between second and third base, though he solely performed 330 1/3 defensive innings, with the Mariners deploying him as a DH in 88 out of 138 video games. Like Bichette, Polanco is considered negatively by Statcast for his vary and arm energy, though the latter received’t matter as a lot on the chilly nook. Moreover, whereas Bichette struggles with balls in play from right-handed hitters, the other is true for Polanco. From 2024-25, he was price -2 OAA on balls in play from righties, in comparison with -12 OAA on balls in play from lefties. Simply as Bichette will probably be extra uncovered to right-handed contact at third, Polanco will probably be uncovered to contact from lefties on the chilly nook.

The query of which participant is the higher worth to the Mets might come right down to funds. Whereas the Mets are well-positioned to tackle costly contracts, the present entrance workplace underneath president of baseball operations David Stearns reveals a transparent desire for short-term offers. Bichette can opt-out after 2026, so there’s an opportunity his deal turns right into a one-year, $47MM pact ($42MM AAV plus a $5MM opt-out bonus). On the one hand, that provides the workforce long-term flexibility, nevertheless it may be loads for somebody who’s already not a robust defender and who’s now studying a brand new place.

Polanco’s deal doesn’t include opt-outs, so the Mets are on the hook for $40MM in assured cash by means of 2027. He’s half as costly as Bichette, however his offense has extra threat in that he ran a worse-than-average strikeout price as just lately as 2024. Ought to Polanco regress in that space, his general output might not be as much as par with the standard first baseman. His stroll price has additionally fallen year-over-year since 2022, whereas Bichette’s has stayed comparatively fixed (albeit below-average). As well as, Polanco is 4 years older than Bichette and extra more likely to decline as he performs into his 30s.

What do MLBTR readers suppose? Does Bichette’s offense justify his excessive AAV, even with the defensive questions at third base? Will Polanco repeat final 12 months’s efficiency and reap the benefits of a much less demanding place? Which one gives the higher worth at their present wage? Tell us within the ballot.