Fangraphs in mid-December listed the following 2023 salary projections for arbitration-eligible Mets (service time in brackets):
Mets (8)
- Daniel Vogelbach (4.138): $2.9MM (Mets can bypass arbitration by exercising a $1.5MM club option)
- Tomas Nido (4.089): $1.6MM
- Dominic Smith (4.081): $4MM
- Jeff McNeil (4.069): $6.2MM
- Joey Lucchesi (4.067): $1.15MM
- Drew Smith (4.034): $1.2MM
- Pete Alonso (4.000): $15.9MM
- Luis Guillorme (3.167): $1.5MM
Well, Dom Smith was non-tendered, so what he earns in 2023 I am not sure, nor do I much care at this juncture. But it appears he got $2 million, with incentives to make up to $2 million more, from the Nats, which would - voila - be $4 million.
It is quite odd for me to see, though, the $$ disparity between two Mets stars…McNeil and Alonso.
McNeil, after all, just won the major league batting title, no small feat.
He also started his career spectacularly in 2018, ahead of Alonso's explosive 2019 debut season. McNeil is a superb career .307 hitter, with 16.9 career WAR.
Pete's calling cards are HRs and RBIs (a terrific 146 and 380, respectively, so far) and 14.2 WAR.
So despite 2.7 higher career WAR for McNeil - nearly 20% higher than Pete's accumulated WAR - in just about the same number of career games, and having just won a batting title, Fangraphs projects McNeil will only make 39% as much as Pete in 2023.
Which, to be clear, is a stunning 61% less for the Squirrel.
That's nuts, in Squirrel Speak.
If I am McNeil, it tells me one thing:
Jeff, you've secured your batting title, now become a HR hitter, since they seem to get paid a lot more, even if your average drops.
Because boppers make a lot more money.
30 HRs and .280 might make more sense for McNeil to pursue.
The shortened right field Citi-fence ought to help lefty-hitting Jeff poke out a few more fence-clearers in that regard. Risk v. reward has tilted for lefties to looking to clear friendlier fences.
Jeff may just say screw it, hitting like I did in 2022 makes me the best hitter I can be, so I am sticking with it. “I hate making outs”, I can almost hear him say.
To that, I say, it is your career and your choice.
You’ll make a fine one.
But sluggers seem to make make lots more money. Just sayin’.
And…Just look at your buddy Pete in that chart.
Go deep. Get paid.
5 comments:
Carlos Correa just turned 66 and is applying for Social Security. Negotiations have lasted decades.
Morning Tom
Another thing I don't understand about the Cohen Mets is their lack of extending their 20s talent.
Both McNeil and Alonso would be under contract close to the end of this decade if they were Braves.
It's not like they are projecting ahead and thinking new kids will take over those positions. Cohen Mets don't play kids.
Crazy.
Mets should definitely go a little over on mcneil to hook him up.
Mack and Ernest, I agree.
If not extended, and Jeff (a .307 career hitter and batting champ) gets just $6 million, while Lindor and Correa are in the $300 million category, I (if I was McNeil) would feel grossly underpaid, relatively speaking
Sign McNeil to a long term contract. Don't make him hit home runs. He will deliver with 200 hit seasons year after year and score many runs for the Mets. Let the other guys hit it over the fence!
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