A proposed swap sending New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Mets for infielder Jorge Polanco has entered offseason discussion, though significant barriers make any such deal unlikely.
The idea originated in an October 9 analysis from Sportsnaut, which floated exchanging the two veterans as a way for both clubs to address underperforming, injury-prone contracts.
Stanton holds a full no-trade clause in his contract, requiring his explicit approval before any move could proceed. Without that consent, neither the Yankees nor the Mets can complete a transaction involving him.
Financial terms add another layer of complexity. Stanton is owed a $25 million salary for the 2027 season, the final guaranteed year of the 13-year, $325 million deal he signed with the Miami Marlins in 2014. The Marlins continue to reimburse the Yankees $10 million annually through 2028, reducing the Yankees’ net cost to $15 million for 2027 if those payments transfer with the player.
Polanco, signed to a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets last winter, carries a $23 million payroll figure for 2027 according to FanGraphs data. A straight swap could create an $8 million difference in 2027 cash obligations for the Mets, assuming the Marlins subsidy follows Stanton, but trade terms would determine any actual savings.
Stanton’s deal also includes a $25 million club option for 2028 with a $10 million buyout. Evaluating a trade requires accounting for that final year and the remaining Marlins payments.
On the field, Stanton’s availability remains a major question. He appeared in only 24 games in 2026, batting .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs while dealing with multiple calf strains that sidelined him for most of the season. He was activated late and limited to a pair of postseason at-bats in the American League Division Series.
The 36-year-old showed power when healthy the previous year, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 66 runs across 77 games in 2025. He has battled various injuries throughout his Yankees tenure, missing substantial time since joining the club in a 2017 trade.
Polanco’s 2026 season was similarly limited. The 33-year-old switch-hitter played in 37 games for the Mets, posting a .148 average with two home runs and six RBIs amid Achilles and ankle issues that required surgery and ended his year early. He finished with a .431 OPS.
In 2025 with the Seattle Mariners, Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs over 138 games, providing the production that led the Mets to sign him after the departures of Pete Alonso and others.
Acquiring Stanton would commit the Mets’ designated hitter role heavily to one player with a lengthy injury history, potentially reducing flexibility for matchups or rest. Trading Polanco would force New York to address infield coverage at first base, second base, or other spots.
From the Yankees’ perspective, moving Stanton could open roster space. New York Post columnist Joel Sherman wrote this week that “The Yankees roster would just make more sense without Stanton,” citing expected everyday designated hitter options in Ben Rice and Luis Garcia Jr., along with possible increased time there for Aaron Judge.
Both players have clogged roster spots with limited production relative to their salaries. The Mets finished the 2026 season at the bottom of the National League East after high expectations, while the Yankees were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series.
Any potential discussions would still hinge on Stanton’s willingness to waive his no-trade rights, agreement on how the Marlins payments are handled, and whether either team views the other player as an upgrade worth the complications. No active negotiations have been reported.
The proposal remains speculative offseason analysis rather than an imminent transaction.
