Polanco's Return Is In Question As Achilles Rehab Persists

What's happened

Polanco remains sidelined with Achilles bursitis after a prolonged rehab, with the Mets delaying activation and focusing on thresholds before a possible return. Young’s hot bat offers a temporary lift as the club weighs lineup options.

What's behind the headline?

Context and implications

• Polanco’s return is controlled by medical thresholds, not certainty
• His lingering injury affects the Mets’ balance at first base and the lineup’s depth
• Jared Young’s emergence offers a proof of concept for organizational flexibility

What this means for the team

• The Mets will continue to monitor his workload and may deploy him as DH or bench depth rather to avoid re-aggravation
• The short-term impact is a potentially reduced production at first base until Polanco is fully back

Forecast

• If Polanco reaches the required thresholds, activation will come only with careful ramp-up; otherwise, the Mets will lean on Young and Vientos as stopgaps.

How we got here

Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million deal to replace Pete Alonso and provide balance to a lineup needing depth. He has been limited to 14 games this season due to an Achilles bursitis and a bruised right wrist, with rehab assignments in the minors extending his absence.

Our analysis

AP News reports on Polanco's rehab progression and Timetable for activation; NY Post details on lineup dynamics and Young's breakout; Mets manager comments provide context on thresholds and usage.

Go deeper

• When can Polanco be activated if rehab thresholds are met?
• How does Young's performance change the Mets' plans at first base?
• What is the timeline for Alvarez's minor-league rehab and how does it affect the roster?

More on these topics

• New York Mets - Baseball team

  The New York Mets are a Major League Baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League East division.

• Jorge Polanco - Baseball infielder

  Jorge Luis Pacheco Polanco is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball.

• Francisco Lindor - Baseball shortstop

  Francisco Miguel Lindor, nicknamed "Paquito" and "Mr. Smile", is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Cleveland Indians. A right-handed thrower and switch hitter, Lindo