Reese Kaplan -- Starting to Think More About Roster Changes

David Stearns is not going to have an easy time figuring out which minor league resources will be worth sacrificing in upcoming baseball trades.  Yes, there are plenty of major league players who could make for presence on the trading block, but none are performing well enough for Stearns to get much in return.

For example, Jeff McNeil is on a bit of a recent hitting tear (including three recent home runs).  While he’s never going to be a huge RBI guy, if he returns to his career average for batting and getting on base and sports the ability to play any of three outfield positions as well as second base and third base, he most definitely has value not just to the Mets but to other clubs as well. 

Now look at his contract and all of the sudden he moves into that untradeable category.  At age 32 it’s reasonable to assume he’s got perhaps 4 more good seasons in him, but right now he earns $15.75 million in 2025, the same salary in 2026 and a choice of that number again in 2027 or a $2 million buyout. 

Put yourself in the shoes of the theoretically acquiring team.  He is a career .288 hitter and has delivered as much as a 5.9 WAR rating, but that has not happened since 2022.  In 2023 he was down to 2.4 WAR and in 2024 it was just 1.6.  

Thus far in 2025 he’s at 1.1 but that number should increase as his playing time and batting abilities correspondingly rise.  Still, is he worth nearly $16 million next season and theoretically again in 2027 if you don’t pay off the $2 million option?  

If a WAR rating of 1.0 is worth $8-$9 million, then finishing about 2.0 means his value is fair.  However, he hasn’t hit exceptionally well for 2+ seasons now, so he would not net as much as you might think.

We could go through the same exercise with Starling Marte, but the point is pretty clear.  Players who once were at the top of their games who between age and multiple injuries diminish significantly in value.  In Marte’s case the number is even higher at a 2025 salary of $20.75 million but there is no obligation to an acquiring team beyond the end of this season.  However, at that number, being 36 years old and no longer playing great defense he’s likely going to require a salary buy-down.

There are some younger players who could be on the block as well.  On the infield, Luisangel Acuna, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and currently injured Mark Vientos are too many infielders for the current and future roster needs.  Being you and at low salaries they would possibly draw quite a bit more interest. 

Starting pitching is an area where the Mets most definitely have an excess.  Between the current 5-man rotation of Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill and David Peterson the club has an enviable 2.85 ERA for their staff.  They also have Paul Blackburn currently in the pen, Frankie Montas stinking things up in rehab and Sean Manaea having looked unremarkable in his one start while working his way back from injury.  

The fact is that the guys in rehab right now are pretty much locked to the Mets until they prove what they can do in the majors.  Blackburn had one good appearance, one bad appearance and a mediocre career record.  I’ve volunteered before that Canning may be on the block as he is a free agent at year’s end.  

Tylor Megill is another one who’s not quite hit the high note when given starting responsibilities.  Peterson being a lefty is likely safe and you need to embrace both Senga and Holmes on multi-year deals.

Next time around we’ll take a look at the minor league prospects to see who would be of interest and then how valuable they would be...call it the Pete Crow-Armstrong stigma.