The stated mission of the Mets offseason entails preventing more runs, which has led David Stearns into a drastic winter renovation of the roster.
Replacing Jeff McNeil with Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien at second base makes sense. How the Mets fill the cleats of Brandon Nimmo and whether a true center fielder will be added are still unclear.
Their first base plan, though, is of particular curiosity.
The Mets allowed Pete Alonso to leave in part because they did not want to go long with a 31-year-old, lumbering first baseman who scored a five-year deal, and in part because Alonso’s defense took a step back last season — a backpedal he could not afford to take. Although a brilliant scooper, Alonso’s range suffered during a season in which he ranked 39th of 40 in Outs Above Average and 18th of 18 qualifiers in Defensive Runs Saved at first.
Moving on from Alonso defensively was logical, but the Mets first base strategy — at least in mid-January — has represented a gamble thus far.
Speaking this week from Citi Field, Stearns said newcomer Jorge Polanco will “see time” at the spot, as will Mark Vientos, as could others “who are either here or that we bring in.”
Polanco has played first base for one pitch in his 12-year career. Vientos has logged 17 games at the position in his four seasons and has not looked natural. Can the club view first base as a defensive upgrade with this amount of unknown?
Maybe if the 32-year-old Polanco, in particular, can develop quickly.
A former shortstop who has spent most of his past five years at second base, Polanco is sure-handed with a weak arm and declining speed. But the arm and foot speed theoretically matter less and become comparatively better when placed at first.
Stearns said the Mets did their homework at projecting Polanco — “Whether it’s ball security, how his hands work, range, baseball instincts — is that going to play at a different position?” — and listened to plenty who have seen Polanco over the years. He worked out at first base last season before games with Mariners infield coach Perry Hill and bench coach Manny Acta — work that never paid off in games.
“We were able to get comfortable that first base — and playing a quality first base — is a realistic option,” Stearns said of Polanco.
Kai Correa, the new Mets bench coach with a history of improving team defense, could help both Polanco and Vientos. Vientos’ bat will always be his calling card, but the hope is he can be more playable at first than he was at third, where his slow feet too often cost him.
“The defensive challenge that Mark has is the lateral range, and that is somewhat less important at first than third,” Stearns said.
The internal options for the Mets at first include Jared Young and top prospect Ryan Clifford, who touched Triple-A Syracuse last season. It is also possible that the Mets bring in further help from the outside, which could push Polanco into more of a DH role.
Ty France, a free agent who won the AL Gold Glove at first last season with the Twins and Blue Jays, would be a logical fit. The Mets had checked in on France earlier in the offseason — before signing Polanco, a source said — but had not engaged recently, which of course can change. The first base market in general has been slow to develop, with the unsigned including Cody Bellinger, Luis Arráez, Rhys Hoskins and Paul Goldschmidt.
Holding up the market could be the trade possibilities, which include the Astros’ Christian Walker and Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle.
