The New York Mets' decision to let franchise home run king Pete Alonso walk in free agency is looking worse by the day—especially after a troubling injury update on his replacement.

Let's be clear: nobody expected this to go perfectly, but the Mets' gamble on Jorge Polanco has backfired in almost every way. Alonso, the all-time home run leader in Mets history, was a fan favorite who didn't command a $300 million contract. Given owner Steve Cohen's willingness to spend, letting him leave always felt like a head-scratcher.

Now, the plan to replace him with the 32-year-old Polanco—a middle infielder converted to first base—is falling apart. Polanco has been a solid pro over his career, but he's not Pete Alonso. And he's not getting any younger.

Worse, Polanco is now dealing with an Achilles injury that has no clear return date. "We have good days and then it flares up," Mets president David Stearns told SNY. "We need to get the ankle asymptomatic so we know he can go out on a daily basis, run the bases freely, and we're not there yet."

Before the injury, Polanco was already struggling mightily—hitting just .179 with one home run in 56 at-bats. That's not the production you want from a first baseman, especially one replacing a beloved slugger.

It's been a season to forget for the Mets, and this decision is a big reason why. When you let a homegrown star walk and his replacement can't stay healthy or produce, the questions only get louder.