It’s been a whirlwind for Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil over the last few years.
Fresh off a batting title and ahead of his age-31 season, he signed a four-year, $50 million extension in January of 2023 that was a well-deserved payday after he had a .827 OPS and 128 OPS+ during the first five seasons of his career.
Since then, things have gone sideways.
McNeil struggled badly in 2023, hitting just .270/.333/.378 in 156 games.
He started off poorly over the first couple of months of 2024 before rebounding as the season went on, but the overall result was similar to his 2023 output — an OPS+ that was below league average. McNeil also had a .692 OPS in 2024, which was the lowest one he’s ever posted in a full season.
Ahead of 2025, the Mets have a potentially packed infield situation and are looking to upgrade in the corner outfield.
Could that mean the end of McNeil’s tenure in Queens?
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE MCNEIL
With the way the Mets’ roster is being built, it seems McNeil could get squeezed out of regular playing time.
On the infield, Mark Vientos is entrenched at third base. And in a world where the Mets lose Pete Alonso, they could sign a new third baseman (Alex Bregman?) and shift Vientos to first base. That would leave second base as the likeliest spot for McNeil. But there’s a potential logjam there.
It’s unclear whether Luisangel Acuña will be an everyday player. But if he is, second base makes the most sense for him. The Mets also have Ronny Mauricio, who missed all of 2024 due to a torn ACL, but who is expected to be healthy for the start of 2025. Beyond Acuña and Mauricio is Jett Williams, whose future is almost certainly at second base or in center field.
In addition to second base and third base, McNeil is also a legitimate option to play either corner outfield spot. But there might not be any room.
With Tyrone Taylor and the recently-acquired Jose Siri seeming like the current center field options — and Williams and Drew Gilbert perhaps not far behind — Brandon Nimmo is entrenched in left field. That leaves right field as the option for McNeil, but that will be out the window if the Mets sign Juan Soto or another starting-level corner outfielder. Beyond that, McNeil doesn’t really profile as a regular corner outfielder anyway given his relative lack of power.
Then there’s McNeil’s production, which has seen a stark dip the last few seasons. Entering his age-33 season in 2025, it’s fair to wonder if he can recapture what made him one of the best hitters in baseball in his prime.
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP MCNEIL
While McNeil hasn’t been as productive as usual over the last two seasons, he showed some serious signs in the second half of 2024 that he had turned a corner.
From July 12 through Sept. 6 (when McNeil’s regular season ended due to a fractured wrist after a hit-by-pitch), he slashed .288/.373/.540 (.912 OPS) with seven homers, 14 doubles, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 44 games.
The version of McNeil who got hot in the second half last season very closely resembled the hitter he was with the Mets from 2018 to 2022, when he hit for high average and got on base at a tremendous clip. If he can recapture that — and the end of his 2024 campaign proved that he still has it in him — he could be immensely valuable.
McNeil also provides tons of value with his versatility, since he’s able to play four positions at an average level.
Beyond the above is the fact that, while the Mets have lots of potential second base options for 2025 and beyond, those players are all unproven.
Even if the Mets view McNeil as more of a depth option going forward than an everyday player, he could make sense to keep given his ability to play all over the field, to work strong at-bats, and to step in as a starter in the event someone gets injured.
VERDICT
If the Mets trade McNeil now, they would be selling low.
It could make more sense to wait until the middle of this coming season — when McNeil has potentially rebounded and/or legitimate options to replace him have emerged — before thinking of dealing him.
Or, in a world where McNeil recaptures what made him so good over the first part of his career, he could turn out to be a key piece of the Mets’ offense for the next two seasons.
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