David Stearns at ease with Mets’ bold move on first base

Mets Offseason Plans Focus on Defense

The Mets are entering the offseason with a clear goal: reduce the number of runs allowed. To achieve this, manager David Stearns has initiated a significant overhaul of the roster this winter.

It certainly seems logical to slot Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien in at second base, moving on from Jeff McNeil. However, the situation surrounding Brandon Nimmo’s position is less clear—will they add a traditional center fielder?

What’s most intriguing are their preliminary plans.

The Mets decided not to retain Pete Alonso, partly due to concerns about committing to a slower, 31-year-old first baseman on a lengthy contract. Alonso’s defense also declined last season, leaving him vulnerable. Though he excelled at scooping, his overall performance dropped, placing him 39th out of 40 in outs above average and at the bottom in defensive ERA among qualifiers.

While the decision to move on from Alonso makes sense from a defensive standpoint, the current approach at first base, particularly in mid-January, feels like a bit of a risk.

Speaking recently from Citi Field, Stearns mentioned that rookies Jorge Polanco, Mark Vientos, and other players—whether current or new—would be considered for the position.

Polanco has only played a single game at first base in his 12-year career. Vientos has seen action in that role 17 times over his four seasons, yet he’s struggled. Can the Mets really view such an inexperienced player as an upgrade defensively?

It’s a gamble, especially if Polanco, now 32, quickly adapts.

Polanco, who was primarily a shortstop but shifted to second base in recent years, has a weaker arm and has lost some speed. Still, it’s argued that those factors might not weigh as heavily at first base.

Stearns noted that the team did thorough evaluations on Polanco, analyzing aspects such as his versatility and instincts on the field. He also trained at first base last season with coaches Perry Hill and Manny Acta, though it didn’t translate into game time.

“I felt reassured that playing quality first base is a realistic option for him,” he reflected.

New bench coach Kai Correa, known for enhancing defensive skills, could potentially aid both Polanco and Vientos. While Vientos’ hitting is a strength, the hope is that first base will suit him better than third, where he struggled defensively.

Stearns commented, “Mark’s challenge is his lateral movement, which is less critical at first.”

Looking internally, the Mets have Jared Young and top prospect Ryan Clifford, who played at Triple-A Syracuse last season. It’s also possible they’ll seek outside options, which might lead Polanco to a designated hitter role.

Ty France, a free agent who recently earned a Gold Glove with the Twins and Blue Jays, seems like a natural fit. Although the Mets previously showed interest before signing Polanco, he hasn’t been a focus lately—yet that could shift. The first base market is rather sparse, including notable unsigned players like Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.