Zuñiga, 27, has 19 2/3 innings of major league experience. These appearances came in 2023 and 2024. His ERA across those appearances is 5.03.

The Mets signed the towering 6-foot-6 relief pitcher in May after his release from the Seattle Mariners’ organization.

He has appeared across the Double-A and Triple-A levels for the Mets this season. He struck out 12 across 9 1/3 innings for Binghamton (Double-A), posting a 1.93 ERA prior to his call-up to Syracuse (Triple-A). He has only thrown 4 1/3 innings in Triple-A this year, allowing four hits and three runs with five walks and six strikeouts.

Zuñiga has thrown a four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, and changeup. His fastball and sinker sit between 93-and-96 mph. In season’s past, Zuñiga has been known to throw above triple digits, however, does not appear the velocity has been back there just yet.

In all, he has a 4.63 ERA across 344 1/3 career minor league innings. He also represented Team Columbia at the World Baseball Classic this year, tossing one ineffective inning for the club.

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Polanco owns a career slash line of .263/.330/.442 (.771 OPS). His lone All-Star season was 2019 when he set a previous career-high in homers at 22. He busted out in a big way in 2021 when he hit 33 homers to go along with 98 RBIs and a .826 OPS. The following three seasons, in 2022 through 2024, he hit 16, 14, and 16 homers, respectively. Then, last season, he hit the second-most homers (26) to go along with the third-highest OPS (.821)  of his career.

As far as postseason experience goes, Polanco has played in 24 postseason games over his career. He owns a career .209/.308/.385 (.692 OPS) playoff slash line. He had a few notable homers last season in Seattle’s run to the American League Championship Series.

As a hitter overall, Polanco pulls the ball a ton. His career pull rate is 34.9% (MLB average is 29.0%). His pull rate in 2025 was the highest of his career at a staggering 42.3%. The veteran also did a great job at cutting his strikeout rate in almost half in 2025. In 2024, he posted the highest strikeout rate of his career at 29.2%. In 2025, that figure dropped to 15.6%. The 15.6% figure was the lowest of his career since the 2020 season. From 2022 through 2024, his strikeout rate steadily rose from the early 20% range peaking at the aforementioned 29.2% mark last season.

One of the impacts of cutting down his strikeout rate was a decrease in walk rate. Despite striking out a ton from 2022 through 2024, Polanco had his walk rate to marks 2-to-5% higher than the league average of 8.3%. His overall career walk rate is above the MLB average (8.7% to 8.3%). However, his 8.0% walk rate in 2025 was the lowest of his career since 2021.

In 2025, Polanco posted one of his better analytical seasons of his career, thus the very strong OPS and wRC+ figures. He ranked above the league 60th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, squared-up rate, and strikeout rate. Historically, Polanco usually has above average whiff and chase rates.

One of the concerns with Polanco is how poor his analytical profile was just as recent as 2024. As strong as his 2025 was, his 2024 season saw him rank below the 35th percentile in xBA, average exit velocity, squared-up rate, whiff rate, and strikeout rate. Encouragingly, outside of 2024, and a hiccup in 2020, dating back to 2019, his analytical make-up has been relatively strong thus the above-average career OPS and batting average.

Jorge Polanco. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

As a switch-hitter, Polanco has historically had pretty even splits against left-handed and right-handed pitching. Against right-handed pitching he has a career .260 batting average and a .786 OPS. Meanwhile, against left-handed pitching, he owns a career .270 batting average and .736 OPS. As you can see, his power has historically come from the left side of the plate against right-handed pitching. In 2025, Polanco killed left-handed pitching with a .305 batting average and an .888 OPS. Though, in most seasons, his splits are pretty even.

A last interesting hitting note on Polanco is, historically, he has been a terrific hitter with runners in scoring position (RISP). In his career, he owns a .306/.368/.515 (.883 OPS) slash line with RISP. This was exemplified in 2025 when he owned a .337 batting average and .985 OPS.

Defensively, Polanco has historically played in the middle infield. Throughout his 12-year big league career, he has spent 501 games at shortstop and 430 games at second base. Polanco has often been a negative defender. He owns a negative-28 outs above average (OAA) and negative-20 fielding run value (FRV) at second base in his career. At shortstop, he owns a career negative-32 OAA and negative-29 FRV. Given this, the Mets reportedly won’t be playing him at either position, and instead give him time at the much easier first base spot and let him designated hit a lot.

Given MLB Trade Rumors only projected a three-year, $42 million deal it appears as if Stearns and the Mets staff sacrificed some average annual value to get the years down to only two. At $20 million annually, it is a pretty steep price tag. However, he will be off the books in just two seasons. If he can provide anything like the offensive pop he did in 2025, he should provide great value to the Mets.

As a pure hitter, outside 2020 and 2024, Polanco has been comfortably above average at the plate each season. He should provide an immediate pop in the middle of the Mets’ order. A lineup that desperately needs it given the departures of Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. A nice add for the Mets.

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The specifics of the deal wasn’t revealed until a day after Passan’s report. Naylor signed for $92.5 million over five years ($18.5 million annually).

Naylor was projected to sign a five-year deal worth $90 million by MLB Trade Rumors and a four-year deal worth $80 million by Fangraph’s crowd-sourced projections. The details of his extension with Seattle have yet to be disclosed.

Naylor was brought to Seattle at the trade deadline from Arizona. The Mariners sent two top-20 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, to Arizona to acquire the now 28-year-old.

The former Cleveland Guardian had a breakout in 2023 where he posted a career-best .308 average and 130 OPS+ across 452 at-bats. Then, the following year, he had a massive 31-homer season to go along with 108 RBIs. To top it off, in 2025 he hit 20 homers, drove in 92 runs, and posted the second-highest OPS of his career at .831. Over the last three seasons, Naylor has been one of the more prolific offensive first baseman in the league.

First base is of course an extremely important position for the New York Mets this offseason. With Pete Alonso on the open market, Naylor could have been a potential replacement. He was comfortably the third best option among free agent first baseman behind Alonso and Cody Bellinger. For reference, MLB Trade Rumors projects a $28 million annual salary for Bellinger and a $27.5 million annual salary for Alonso.

Naylor is really the first of many dominoes expected to fall in the coming weeks as far as free agency goes. The Mets, like many teams around the league, have a lot of work to do over the coming months. However, Seattle ultimately locked in one of the best first base options on the market early.

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It all comes down to this! The Blue Jays beat the Mariners 6-2 on Sunday night to tie the ALCS and force a Game 7. The winner will face the Dodgers in the World Series. Rookie Trey Yesavage earned the win for Toronto, pitching 5 ⅔ innings and striking out seven. The Blue Jays’ defense helped him out in three consecutive innings with three inning-ending double plays. Addison Barger was front and center for Toronto’s offense, going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his sixth homer of the postseason.

The Blue Jays look to make their first World Series appearance since 1993, when they last won. Meanwhile, the Mariners look to secure their first-ever AL Pennant and trip to the Fall Classic.

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Mariners Lineup

1. Julio Rodríguez, CF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Josh Naylor, 1B
4. Jorge Polanco, DH
5. Randy Arozarena, LF
6. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
7. J.P. Crawford, SS
8. Leo Rivas, 2B
9. Victor Robles, RF

Dan Wilson hands the ball to George Kirby in a winner-takes-all Game 7. The 27-year-old has struggled in his 2025 postseason outings, posting a whopping 7.07 ERA in three starts. He’s given up 17 hits, 11 runs (all earned) and four home runs in 17 innings of work. He’s limited his walks, allowing only three and has punched out 18 batters. However, hitters are batting .293 against him.

His last appearance was in Game 3 of the ALCS against Toronto. Kirby went four innings and allowed eight runs (three homers) on eight hits. He struck out four and allowed two walks. Former Met Andrés Giménez, George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all took Kirby deep in Game 3.

Blue Jays Lineup

1. George Springer, DH
2. Nathan Lukes, LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Alejandro Kirk, C
5. Daulton Varsho, CF
6. Ernie Clement, 3B
7. Addison Barger, RF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B
9. Andrés Giménez, SS

It’ll be a Game 3 rematch as Shane Bieber takes the mound for Toronto. Bieber went six innings in Game 3, giving up two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out eight. Julio Rodríguez tagged the 30-year-old with a two-run homer in the first inning, but it was smooth sailing after that.

In two postseason appearances, he’s 1-0 and has pitched to a 4.15 ERA. Bieber’s allowed five runs (five earned) on nine hits and has walked two and struck out ten. His second postseason appearance, where he faced the Blue Jays, went better than his first against the Yankees, where he lasted only 2 ⅔ innings after giving up five hits and three runs (two earned) on 54 pitches.

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A Seattle Mariners’ victory Sunday night clinches a place in the World Series for the first time in franchise history. They would join the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been waiting for their opponent after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers, in the Fall Classic. Toronto, meanwhile, will look to protect their home field and force a Game 7.

Blue Jays Lineup

1. George Springer, DH
2. Nathan Lukes, LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Alejandro Kirk, C
5. Daulton Varsho, CF
6. Ernie Clement, 3B
7. Addison Barger, RF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B
9. Andres Gimenez, SS

Facing the Toronto bats is the Mariners’ best starter, Logan Gilbert. Gilbert turned in another strong year, posting a 3.44 ERA across 131 innings after an All-Star campaign in 2024.

Gilbert has made three starts in the playoffs thus far posting a 2.45 ERA. However, in two of his starts, he lasted fewer than three innings. He started against Toronto on October 13 and allowed five hits and two runs across only three innings.

Mariners Lineup

1. Julio Rodriguez, CF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Jorge Polanco, DH
4. Josh Naylor, 1B
5. Randy Arozarena, LF
6. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
7. J.P. Crawford, SS
8. Dominic Canzone, RF
9. Leonardo Rivas, 2B

Seattle will try to clinch a pennant against rookie Trey Yesavage. Despite only throwing 14 regular season innings, expectations were high for the Pottstown, Pennsylvania native entering the postseason.

He dominated the New York Yankees, striking out 11 over 5 1/3 hitless innings in his first postseason start. He was less effective against Seattle on October 13, as he allowed five runs and four hits over four innings.

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RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (1-0, 2.61 ERA)

Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 – T-Mobile Park – 3:08 PM PDT (6:08 PM EDT)

TV – FS1, FOX Deportes RADIO – ESPN Radio

The Blue Jays’ offense strafed Seattle’s pitching staff once again in Game 4, scoring a total of eight runs and knocking Luis Castillo out of the game in the third inning en route to a 8-2 victory that tied the ALCS at 2-2. Andrés Giménez had yet another big day with two hits, including a two-run home run, and four RBIs while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also went deep with a solo shot. Max Scherzer was effective in his playoff debut for Toronto, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up just two earned runs on four walks and three hits while striking out five batters.

Kevin Gausman will toe the rubber for the Blue Jays after allowing two earned runs across 5 2/3 frames in a Game 1 loss to the Mariners at Rogers Centre. Bryce Miller, on the other hand, defeated Gausman in that contest with six innings of one-run ball and will look to do so again as Seattle aims to leave T-Mobile Park with at least one win after falling in each of the last two.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

BLUE JAYS LINEUP

1. George Springer – DH
2. Nathan Lukes – LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
4. Alejandro Kirk – C
5. Daulton Varsho – CF
6. Ernie Clement – 3B
7. Addison Barger – RF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B
9. Andrés Giménez – SS

MARINERS LINEUP

1. Julio Rodríguez – CF
2. Cal Raleigh – C
3. Jorge Polanco – DH
4. Josh Naylor – 1B
5. Randy Arozarena – LF
6. Eugenio Suárez – 3B
7. J.P. Crawford – SS
8. Dominic Canzone – RF
9. Leo Rivas – 2B

GAME NOTES

• Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Trey Yesavage will start Game 6 in Toronto. The rookie right-hander allowed five earned runs over four innings in the club’s Game 2 loss to the Mariners.
• Julio Rodríguez is batting leadoff for the first time this postseason as Seattle looks to kickstart its offense after scoring a combined six runs over the last two games.

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The ALCS action continues on Monday with Game 2. The Mariners took Game 1 from the Blue Jays, 3-1, thanks to a stellar pitching performance from Bryce Miller (6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K). Cal Raleigh came through with another clutch solo homer, while Jorge Polanco notched two RBIs for the Mariners. The lone run for the Blue Jays came when George Springer took Miller deep on the first pitch he saw.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mariners Lineup

1. Randy Arozarena, LF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Julio Rodríguez, CF
4. Jorge Polanco, 2B
5. Josh Naylor, 1B
6. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
7. Dominic Canzone, DH
8. Victor Robles, RF
9. J.P. Crawford, SS

Seattle sends Logan Gilbert to the mound for Game 2. In an abbreviated 25 starts this season (he spent time on the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain), he posted a 6-6 record with a 3.44 ERA. Gilbert struck out 173 batters, and hitters mustered a .211 average against the 28-year-old. This postseason, Gilbert has been divine, striking out nine in two appearances. He made his first-ever relief appearance in Game 5 of the NLDS, where he pitched two scoreless innings to help secure a Mariners victory.

In his one appearance against the Blue Jays this season, Gilbert went seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while punching out nine.

Blue Jays Lineup

1. George Springer, DH
2. Nathan Lukes, RF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Addison Barger, 3B
5. Alejandro Kirk, C
6. Daulton Varsho, CF
7. Anthony Santander, LF
8. Ernie Clement, 2B
9. Andrés Giménez, SS

The Blue Jays look to even the series with rookie Trey Yesavage on the mound. The 22-year-old flamethrower made his MLB debut in mid-September but has had a postseason for the ages. In his one start against the Yankees in the ALDS, Yesavage held the Yanks hitless in his five ⅓ innings of work. He struck out 11 batters and allowed just one walk. In his three regular-season starts, Yesavage allowed 13 hits (five runs) in 14 innings of work and posted a 3.21 ERA with 16 strikeouts.

Those three games came against the Rays (two) and the Royals, so the Mariners will get their first look at Yesavage in Game 2.

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The American League Championship Series (ALCS) begins Sunday night. The Seattle Mariners will take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto, who finished the season 94-68, has the home-field advantage in the series, as Seattle finished the year 90-72.

Toronto defeated the New York Yankees in four games in the American League Division Series (ALDS) to advance to their first ALCS since 2016. They lost in the ALCS in both 2015 and 2016. They have not made a World Series since 1993, the last time they captured a title.

Seattle needed five games to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. They last appeared in an ALCS in 2001. This was the first season Seattle won their division since that 2001 season as well. The Mariners are one of a handful of franchise without a World Series title.

Blue Jays Lineup

1. George Springer, DH
2. Nathan Lukes, RF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Addison Barger, 3B
5. Alejandro Kirk, C
6. Daulton Varsho, CF
7. Ernie Clement, 2B
8. Anthony Santander, LF
9. Andres Giménez, SA

The Toronto lineup will get a look at right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller. Miller had his season interrupted by injury, but in all posted a 5.68 ERA and 5.32 xERA across 90 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old had a breakout season in 2024, tossing 180 1/3 innings with a 2.94 ERA.

Miller has thrown 4 1/3 innings this postseason allowing four hits and two runs while striking out two. He faced Toronto once this season, as he allowed eight hits and seven runs over five innings on May 11.

Mariners Lineup 

1. Randy Arozarena, LF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Julio Rodriguez, CF
4. Jorge Polanco, 2B
5. Josh Naylor, 1B
6. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
7. Dominic Canzone, DH
8. Victor Robles, RF
9. J.P. Crawford, SS

Seattle’s bats will face veteran Kevin Gausman. Gausman threw a career-high 193 innings this season as a 34 year old. In doing so, he posted a 3.59 ERA and 3.70 xERA.

Gausman made one start in the ALDS against the Yankees where he threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and one run. Gausman faced Seattle back on May 9 and allowed seven hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings.

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The Mets’ bats once again got to Mariners starter George Kirby, tagging him for 12 hits and seven runs over 4 2/3 innings. Francisco Alvarez continued to swing a hot bat since his recall, going 3-for-4 with two doubles as his season OPS inched closer to .800. He jammed his thumb on a slide but stayed in the game briefly before eventually exiting.

Francisco Lindor stayed locked in at the plate, ripping a ball 99.8 mph into the gap for a double, giving him his third hit of the night despite a misplay in the field. The Mets chased Kirby in the fifth, when Mark Vientos launched a big three-run homer with Sean Manaea joining the booth. New York’s lineup made Kirby work hard despite his strong recent stretch.

Clay Holmes set the tone on the mound, tossing five strong innings and giving up just one run on five hits while striking out four to notch his 10th win of the year. The bullpen backed him up with an overall steady showing, led by Ryan Helsley’s dominant frame that featured two strikeouts and no hits allowed. Brooks Raley added a clean inning with a strikeout, and Tyler Rogers kept the shut-down effort rolling in the ninth despite a couple of baserunners reaching.

Though Reed Garrett allowed two runs in his appearance, the relief corps as a whole held firm, combining with Holmes to limit the Mariners to just three runs on 10 hits across the full nine innings.

Mark Vientos (27) Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Player of the Game: Mark Vientos

Mark Vientos had the big knock of the game with a huge three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away. He had a huge game, driving in four runs and going 2-for-3 on the evening.

On Deck

The Mets have an off-day on Monday, but are right back at it on the road in Washington, D.C. to take on the Nationals. David Peterson (7-5, 3.30 ERA) looks to rebound on the mound for the Mets while Jake Irvin (8-7, 5.14 ERA) toes the slab for Washington. First pitch is at 6:45 pm ET, and the game will be broadcast on SNY and Mets Radio 880.

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Alvarez has been red hot since his recall back to the big leagues. In Sunday’s game at Williamsport, he was 3-for-4 with two doubles. After seeing his OPS bottom out at .620 earlier in the season, that figure is nearing .800 thanks to this recent stretch.

After the game on Sunday, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Alvarez is headed back to New York to get an MRI on his thumb.

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