Potential Red Sox Free Agent Target Reportedly Signs Elsewhere

The Boston Red Sox must cross another free-agent hitter off the list.

Jorge Polanco reached an agreement with the New York Mets on Saturday morning, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The infielder reportedly signed a two-year, $40 million deal.

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported Friday that the Red Sox had interest in signing Polanco, who rebounded from a rough 2024 to bat .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs for the Seattle Mariners last season.

The 2019 All-Star could have given Boston a considerable offensive upgrade at second base. However, he’ll instead change positions after joining a Mets team that recently traded franchise mainstay Brandon Nimmo for Gold Glove Award-winning second baseman Marcus Semien.

Polanco will presumably play first base and designated hitter for a Mets lineup that lost Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles earlier this week. The Red Sox were heavily linked to the All-Star slugger, whom they spoke to at the MLB Winter Meetings before he joined their American League East rival.

Although Polanco won’t replace Alonso’s prodigious power, the Mets landed an above-average regular who’s registered a career .771 OPS since first reaching the majors in 2014. They’ll pay a high annual salary after declining to make a long-term offer to their all-time home run leader, who landed a five-year, $155 million contract from Baltimore.

Meanwhile, Polanco takes another option off the board for Boston.

The Red Sox also watched Kyle Schwarber re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, but several intriguing hitters remain available on the opening market. Cotillo mentioned Bo Bichette and Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto as potential free-agent fits, and the club remains interested in retaining All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.

Boston could also bolster its lineup with a trade. Cotillo said the Red Sox have explored possible deals for infielders Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredes, Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras.