Meet the Mets
Though Jorge Polanco has very little live game experience at first base (where he is expected to play for the Mets), over two months starting in the middle of June, Polanco worked out at first base several times before games, spending time with Mariners infield coach Perry Hill and bench coach Manny Acta to learn the position. “The main thing that they’re going to have to help him break is the habit of an infielder wanting to go for the ball all the time,” Hill said to Will Sammon of The Athletic.
“You need to cover first. If you get the ball between first base and second, then you’re going to have to throw to a moving target, the pitcher, which you really don’t want to do unless you really have to. So things like that — cut-offs, the relays, where to be at the right spot, how to get there quickly and early. Those are the things that he’ll probably have to work on.”
All three of the Mets’ young rookie pitchers who donned elf costumes for the Mets’ recent holiday party figure to be a big part of the team’s 2026 plans—whether that’s as part of the rotation, in the minor leagues, or as trade pieces—writes Anthony DiComo of MLB.com in his newsletter.
Around the National League East
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic wrote about the Nationals’ new young leadership and the transition of the franchise from “old school” to “new school.”
Longtime Marlin Elieser Hernandez is back in the NL East, having signed a minor league deal with the Braves.
Around Major League Baseball
The White Sox are among the teams currently engaged in talks with Munetaka Murakami, whose posting window closes tomorrow at 5:00pm, according to reporting by Mark Feinsand and Scott Merkin.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic did a bit of a rumors roundup yesterday in which he reports that the Blue Jays are showing interest in Alex Bregman and that the Royals are interested in acquiring a hitter such as Jarren Duran or Brendan Donovan.
Will Leitch of MLB.com reviewed the ten biggest stories of the 2025 MLB season, which turned out to be one of the best in history.
Meanwhile, also for MLB.com, Theo DeRosa ran down the top 20 playoff performers in 2025 with World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top of the list.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias spoke to reporters on Saturday and said that the team believes new acquisition Shane Baz can be a No. 3 starter, but also indicated that the Orioles are not done pursuing starting pitching this offseason.
Former Met Paul Blackburn is back with the Yankees on a $2 million deal that can go up to $2.5 million depending on how many innings he pitches next season.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Steve Sypa elaborated upon news that the Mets are to sign top international prospect Wandy Asigen when the international free agent signing period begins on January 15.
This Date in Mets History
On December 21, 2009, Omar Minaya signed a knuckleballer named R.A. Dickey to a minor league deal. Dickey would ultimately go on to have one of the most improbable Cy Young campaigns in baseball history and become one of the highlights of an otherwise dark era of Mets baseball.
